Lewis- Palmer Back to Back 4A Champions
By Matt Langley
BasketballColorado.com
3/16/2013
Boulder, CO –Seniors Jordan Scott and Justin Smith led the Lewis-Palmer Rangers to their second straight 4A championship by defeating the Valor Christian Eagles 51-40, Saturday night at the Coors Events Center. Scott’s and Smith’s experience in last years state championship was invaluable as both played with poise and determination in the 4th quarter as the Rangers pulled away from the Eagles.
In a low scoring first half, neither team shot the ball particularly well, going a combined 1 of 15 from behind the three-point line. The only players having any kind of success shooting the ball were the Rangers’ Scott and Smith. Scott had 8 points all coming in the first quarter then Smith took over in the second quarter scoring 6 points. While the scoring was low, there was plenty of excitement with six lead changes and six ties in the first half. Valor was lead by junior Chase Foster’s 7 points. Lewis-Palmer took a 20-19 lead into half-time.
Scoring woes continued for the two teams in the 3rd quarter unless you were Smith or Foster. Foster’s made two free throws at the beginning of the quarter to give Valor its only lead of the quarter, 21-20. Then, Smith scored 7 straight points in the quarter to give the Rangers a 29-21 lead with 3:48 left in the quarter. The Eagles answered with 7 straight points of their own capped off by junior Christian McCaffrey’s lay-up with 30 seconds left in the quarter. Lewis-Palmer held a 29-28 lead going into the 4th quarter.
As the fourth quarter began, Valor took the lead again briefly 30-29 off a field goal by Foster. The Rangers scored 4 straight points to regain the lead and then had a 6 point scoring outburst in a minute lead by Scott and Smith to make the score 39-32 with 4:46 to play. As the Rangers role players started to make shots and free throws, the Eagles where unable to find the bottom of the bucket. The Eagles had five offensive possessions that were either turnovers or they were unable to get the rebound. The Rangers out rebounded the Eagles 34-27 severely limiting the Eagles second chance points. Foster and McCaffery tried to keep the Eagles in the game, but they were unable to get the Rangers to turn the ball over late in the game like they had done to Broomfield the previous night. Scott sealed the win with a dunk after a Valor turnover with 1:10 left putting the Rangers up 49-38.
Foster led the Eagles in scoring with 17 points and in rebounding with 9. No other Eagle scored in double figures. Lewis-Palmer was led in scoring by Scott’s 17 points, and Smith, the Idaho State bound senior, ended his high school career with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
