A not-so-sweet defeat

It was a back-and-fourth night for the Golden boys basketball team in their Class 4A, Sweet 16, state tournament game against visiting Air Academy High. It just didn’t turn out to be so sweet.

Golden was defeated by Air Academy, 45-41, in a game that went down to the wire. And, it was a game that an overflowing crowd was definitely into. In fact, it went down to the final 5 seconds.

With 2 minutes and 15 seconds left in the game, Golden was able to gain its last tie, 41-41, on a basket by Ryan Blodgett. From there, Air Academy began some stall tactics. But Golden was not about to go out and force fouls shots. Instead they were just hoping to come up with a turnover somewhere along the line.

Golden was able to pull off a jump ball with 1:09 left, but lost the ensuing effort, as it was Air Academy’s turn for the throw in. With :13 left in the game, Air Academy, coached by Barry Clark, called a timeout.

Then, with just 5 seconds left, Air Academy’s Andrew Dewing was fouled on a drive to the basket, which he missed. However, he convert both free throws for a 43-41 lead.

Golden couldn’t retaliate following the Dewing scores. The ball stolen by Air Academy’s David Louthan, who took it in to score with just one second on the clock. For the Demons, that was it.

Blodgett led Golden with 15 points while his teammate, Ryan Thistlewood added 14. They were the only Demons to come through in double-figures and only four other teammates managed to put any points on the board.

Kayden Sund scored five points for Golden, Nick Capaul had four, Jason Johnson, two, and Cole Greff, one, to round out the low-scoring effort by the Demons.

Air Academy led, 11-8, after the first quarter of play, but the Kadets trailed, 21-16, at the half. It was 33-33 going into the final quarter and it was destined to stay close the rest of the way.

Air Academy improved to 22-4 and will play Lewis-Palmer (19-7) in the Final Four, March 13 at the Coors Events Center in Boulder. The second semifinal will match Sierra (23-3) against top-seeded Longmont (26-0).

“We just couldn’t seem to execute in the second half when we needed to,” said Blodgett, a 6-5, junior. “It was just close all the way, but we made critical errors. No matter how it would have ended, I wouldn’t want to play for any other team.

“In the fourth quarter, we were in a position where we couldn’t foul and allow them to get on the line,” Blodgett said. “It was just a tough night all around and a hard way to end our season. I know, I’m already looking forward to next year and we’ll just have to see how it goes.”

There won’t be a next season on the Golden court for Thistlewood, a 6-2, senior. Indeed, it was a tough way to end his prep career.

“We needed to go out more aggressive and it would have come out fine,” Thistlewood said. “We didn’t execute in the second half as we should have. I think that we put up a good dog fight, but in the last two minutes we just couldn’t get the job done. They just played good against us.”

Golden had entered the playoffs with a 21-3 record. The Demons had advanced with a 68-43 victory over Durango and 69-65 over Thomas Jefferson.

There was little that Golden coach, John Anderson, could do but shake his head at the end. Certainly a tough loss, but he had good words for his players afterwards.

“We had the opportunities to get ahead and stay, but couldn’t,” Anderson said, in his 17th season as the Demon’s coach. “They had the pressure and we just had to many turnovers. Both of us played some tremendous defense, but we couldn’t bring out our offense when we needed it.

“They made the plays and we didn’t,” said Anderson. “In the third quarter we were up and couldn’t hold. It was a good season and I’m so proud of what the boys have been able to accomplish. Credit their Air Academy, we just turned the ball over to many times.”

Air Academy was led in scoring by James Simms, a 6-4, senior, who tallied 15 points and David Louthan, a 6-3 senior, with 14. Only four other players were able to help account for the Kadets scoring in this tightly played game.

“We started out with a lot of jitters, but we were able to overcome them when it counted,” Sims said.

Clark, too, knew that it wasn’t going to be an easy night before a huge crowd in this important atmosphere.

“It was just a competitive game and I think we played great under the pressure,” Clark said. “We hit our free throws and we had the speed to keep them off of us tonight. How can you ask for a better game in such a fine atmosphere.”

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