Air Academy Takes Out Undefeated Longmont for Title in OT

By Matt Langley 

www.BasketballColorado.com

3/14/2015

Boulder, C0 – The Air Academy Kadets came out flying high in the first half of the 4A State Championship game at the Coors Events Center Saturday evening, continually beating the Longmont Trojans down the floor for easy layups, most by senior Paul Ambuul.  Meanwhile Longmont struggled against the Air Academy zone defense and could not get anything in the paint to fall. The Kadets played nearly a perfect first half if it wasn’t for the missed free throws that could have pushed the 16 point lead to 20. Longmont found it’s stride late in the 2nd quarter and scored four points in the final minute to cut the Kadet lead to 10 at halftime.

Air Academy starts off with 5 turnovers and shot 0-3 in  the first four minutes of the 3rd quarter that allows longmont to cut the cadet lead to, 30-28 with 4:00 left in the quarter. Blake O’Grady was the Trojan catalyst for the come back. O’Grady scored eight points in the quarter and six straight for the Trojans. The Trojans outscored the Kadets 14-6 but still trailed 36-34 at the end of the quarter.

The Kadets fended off the Trojans over the next four minutes and built a nine point lead with 4:38 left in the game. Free throws became an issue again in the final 3:00 minutes as the Kadets again failed to consistently make them and then failed to get the rebounds in fact Air Academy only had one offensive rebound the entire game. With less than a minute left Jessup drains a 3 pointer to pull the Trojans within one, but a few moments later he fouls out of the game. This is how the final 42 seconds of the game played out

David Speidel sank that three pointer to send the game into overtime for the Trojans.

Nearly two minutes were taken off the clock until Air Academy’s Nate Renfrew hit a 17 foot jump shot to break the tie. With out Jessup Longmont struggled a bit with who was going to score the ball. Meanwhile the Kadets were making free throws six in a row in fact to build a 61-53 ear with less than minute to go. Longmonts Kevin Mitchell was able to hit a 3 pointer fem the corner but Louthan sank 3 of 4 free throws to seal the win in the last eight seconds of play,64-59.

Air Academy finishes the season 24-4