As I sit here typing from my phone, I am watching a Colorado district basketball 2020 tournament. This session features rural schools. We have the Kiowa Indians vs the Elbert Bulldogs. This a girl’s game and I rolled in right as the second half started. If the next game is half as intense it will be interesting. These girls are AGGRESSIVE!!! One point separates the teams with 4:39 to go.
Even though this is a low scoring game, the intensity level is on point. These girls have heart they are diving for loose balls and playing tough D. The crowd is into it.
This place is a barn. I am talking about the old City Auditorium in Colorado Springs. Most of the lower bowl is filled with fans from each team. The crowd is fairly large and the sound travels well.
Elbert Bulldogs vs. Kiowa Indians
Kiowa is winning 30 to 26 with 1:45 left. Now we play the foul game. Great deny defense on an inbounds leads to and Elbert fast break. The layup is blocked. A quick 2 pointer puts Kiowa up 6. Elbert hits a jumper to bring the spread back to 4. 59 seconds remain when a foul is called against Elbert. The shooter makes both free throws. Elbert loses the ball again and fouls quickly. Again both free throws drop in. Kiowa looks to be in control.
With 34 seconds left, Elbert has no choice but to foul. Kiowa hits one and leads by 9. This game is over. Remember kids, free throws can win ball games. Practice them when you are most tired.
The Kiowa coach Rick Carothers just celebrated his 400th career win. Congratulations Coach.
Back to the City Auditorium. There isn’t really a bad seat in this place. Well the seats themselves are pretty bad but they do have a neat place to store your hat. Completed in 1923 the building is still in regular use. The green lines on the floor are for roller derby. You can catch concerts here. Back in the 90’s my family came here to watch a World Championship Wrestling house show. WCW was bad ass back then even though it was before the NWO.
Genoa-Hugo Pirates Vs. Pikes Peak Christian Eagles
The attendance for the boys game was much lower. The teams are the Genoa-Hugo Pirates vs the Pikes Peak Christian Eagles. The first half was pretty uneventful and scoring was low. Action starting picking up half way through the third quarter. The teams are separated by six points with Pikes Peak Christian ahead. Two minutes left in the third quarter. Genoa-Hugo makes a huge run and the score is tied at 29 apiece at the end of the third.
The 4th quarter started out shaky with both teams missing some easy buckets. After a reversed goal tending call, the Pirates received the ball, they can not capitalize on their good fortune and still managed to be up by 2 points with three minutes to go.
Genoa-Hugo hits some key free throws and finds themselves ahead by four points and 1:23 to go. Another loose ball foul puts them into the bonus. The shooter hits both free throws to go up by six. PPC hits a three on the next possession and cuts the lead to 3. At this point, I decided to stop typing and let the video speak for itself.
There will be more Colorado District Basketball action again on 2/29/2020 at the City Auditorium. Be sure to go root for your school and support the teams as the try and make it to the Regional and get one step close to the State Tournament.
-Adam
Pretty intense there at the end. I noticed only – what? – 8 guys total on the team in the dark jerseys? That means they’ve gotta be in shape to play a lot of minutes!
Yes there are only 8 players on that team and really only 6 were used through the rotation. They all look like they are in good shape. Against ECA on Saturday, I think they ran out of steam. The first quarter was close though.