The
Kit Carson Wildcats captured the Class A State Basketball
Championship last week in dominating fashion. The Cats,
rated number one all season, didn't disappoint as they
ran away with all three games. No overtimes, no last
second shots, and no close games may have proved disappointing
to many fans, but Kit Carson can be extremely proud of
their State Tournament run. The Wildcats have been in
the State Championship game three times in the last four
years, winning in 2004 and this year. Ironically the
Cats lost to Hi-Plains last year to set up this year’s
rematch. In the quarterfinal round, the Cats matched
up against the number eight seed LaVeta Redskins. LaVeta,
sporting a 14-7 record, proved no match for the Cats.
Kit Carson, as they have done all year, got out of the
gate quick putting up 29 first quarter points while the
defense only allowed 2 points. In the second quarter,
the offense continued to roll putting in 28 while the
Redskins only managed 7, running the half time score
to 57-9.
Kit Carson’s
entire 12 man roster saw plenty of action and put in
39 second half points while LaVeta only could manage
20. Kit Carson shot 33% from behind the arc and 55%
from two-point range. As has been the case most of
the season, the only downside to the game Kit Carson
shot a dismal 53% (9/17)from the free throw line. LaVeta
shot 11 for 55 for 20% and they converted on 5of 8
from the charity stripe. Kit Carson showed why they
were the best rebounding team in 1A as they grabbed
59 boards and held the Redskins to 29. Kit Carson committed
only 11 turnovers while the defense forced 25 miscues
for LaVeta.
Scoring for
Kit Carson was Joe Jolly with 14, Damon Dechant 14,
Curt Connelley 8, Andrew Maxcy 11, Stetson Mitchell
4, Josh Hammer 5, and Wade Jacobs led all scorers with
17, Ty Trahern 12, Tyler Stephenson 7, and Jon Ball
4. Antonio Arroyo grabbed 3 rebounds and had 3 assists,
Connelley had 4 boards and 3 assists, Dechant grabbed
10 rebounds, had 1 steal, and 2 blocked shots; Hammer
had 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 assist; Jacobs had
2 boards, 3 steals, and 2 assists; Jolly pulled down
a team high 13 rebounds, had 1 steal, 2 assists, and
blocked 3 shots; Maxcy had 7 rebounds and 1 steal,
Mitchell had 4 rebounds and 2 assists, Tom Rhoades
had 1 rebound, 2 steals, and 2 assists; Tyler Stephenson
had 2 rebounds, 2 steals, and a team high 5 assists;
Trahern had 6 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 assists.
In the semifinal
round the Cats met the Otis Bulldogs who were coming
off a quarterfinal victory over Pawnee and sporting
a 20-4 record. Otis was possibly the biggest team Kit
Carson had faced during the season as highly touted
6’8” J.P. Davis looked strong in the first
round game but the Cats held him to just 14 points.
The Cats, known for their explosive, quick starts,
put in 23 first quarter points and Otis scored 13 to
stay within striking distance. But the Cats defense
stiffened in the second quarter only allowing 4 points
while the offense put in 19 for a 42-17 first half
lead. In the second half, Kit Carson scored 29 points
and the Bulldogs scored 22 for the final score of Kit
Carson 71 Otis 39.
Kit Carson
shot 58% from two point range, 38% from behind the
arc, and 59% from the free throw line on 10 of 17 shooting.
Otis struggled to get open looks against the stingy
Cat defense, shooting only 23% from the field. The
Bulldogs were 10 of 18 from the charity stripe and
committed 16 turnovers. The Wildcats committed 16 turnovers
and held a 45-34 rebound advantage. Scoring for Kit
Carson were Joe Jolly with 2, Damon Dechant had a team
high 24, Curt Connelley 4, Andrew Maxcy 3, Stetson
Mitchell 4, Josh Hammer 4, Ty Trahern 14, Tyler Stephenson
6, Antonio Arroyo 4, and Jon Ball 6. Antonio Arroyo
grabbed 2 rebounds and had 1 steal; Ball had 5 boards,
1 steal, took 1 charge, and blocked 1 shot; Connelley
had 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 3 assists; Dechant pulled
down a team high 15 rebounds, had 2 steals, 2 assists,
and blocked 2 shots; Hammer had 3 rebounds and 1 assist;
Jolly had 5 rebounds; Maxcy had 3 rebounds, 4 steals,
and 1 assist; Mitchell had 2 rebounds; Rhoades had
1 rebound and 1 steal, and a team high 6 assists; and
Trahern had 1 rebound, 1 steal, and 2 assists.
In the Championship
game, the Cats took on the Hi-Plains Patriots, the
number two seed in the field and sporting a 21-4 record.
These, ironically were the same two teams that faced
off for the state championship last year with Hi-Plains
winning that contest. Kit Carson would not be denied
this year as they came out on top 58-36.
In the first
quarter, you know the story, Kit Carson jumped out
to a commanding 20-4 lead. In the second quarter Hi-Plains
closed the gap scoring 17 points while Kit Carson managed
15 for a Wildcat half time lead, 35-21. In the third
quarter, both teams struggled to get any offensive
rhythm scoring only 15 total points, 8 for Kit Carson
and 7 for Hi-Plains. Early in the fourth quarter the
Patriots made things interesting as they closed the
gap to 10 points, but Kit Carson stepped on the gas
pedal and ran off 15 fourth quarter points.
Trahern,
in summing up, added these comments about this special
team and season. “I can’t say enough about
the accomplishments of this team. They dominated the
field like it has never been done before. We scored
225 points in three games while only giving up 104,
for an unbelievable 121 point margin of victory. Our
defense only allowed one player in three games to reach
the double figure mark, we ran several picture prefect
fast breaks, and we were very dominate on the glass,
out rebounding our three opponents by a margin of 59
boards (140-81). It is impossible to put into words
my feelings for this group of young men. Our entire
team of twenty-one players played exceptional basketball
all year long. The Varsity, for the first time in school
history, went 25-0 on the season and our JV team also
ran off a perfect season, going 16-0 as well. That
feat will be difficult to match. The quality of each
and every individual on our team allowed us to really
get better every day in practice. Not many 1A teams
can have the competitive type of practices that we
were afforded this year. That depth was also very evident
in games as well. I think the thing I am most proud
of is the way this group challenged each other, yet
developed an inseparable chemistry that made us great.
We have been very fortunate the past four years to
make four trips to the state tournament, and I hope
they can look back later on and appreciate how difficult
that task was. The dedication and their willingness
to be coached will be something I remember for a lifetime.
I also want to thank Assistant Coach Scott Johnson
and Assistant Coach Toby Kechter for their dedication,
time, and all the sacrifices they made for the betterment
of our team. Also thank you to all the people who make
our home games an entertaining venue and thank you
also to Bob Schecter and The Range Ledger for their
coverage of our memorable year. Thanks to the Booster
Club for all they have done throughout the year and
last and most importantly THANK YOU to the parents
of our players. Without your support and trust, this
incredible run absolutely would not have been possible.
You are one of the main reasons for all our successes.”
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