Chatfield Takes Creek to OT for Final 4 Birth
Chatfield had to with stand one of the best single individual performances in recent Great 8 history Saturday afternoon at the Denver Coliseum to advance to the 5A Final Four, defeating Cherry Creek 63-55 in overtime.
Will Halfon a 6’2 senior guard was incredible for the Cherry Creek Bruins in the first quarter scoring 13 of the Bruins 15 points. Halfon was aggressive from the start attacking the Chatfield defense with pull jump three pointers and slashing to the basket. The Chargers were balanced scoring in the first quarter but they missed on several opportunities at the basket and was only one of four from behind three point line and were lucky to be trailing 15-11 at the end of the 1st quarter.
The Chargers were able to tie the game by halftime at 24 thanks in part to their defense that held Halfon to just three points in the quarter and did not allow another Bruin to make a field goal. Chatfield senior guard Cam Pearson final got his shots to fall and totaled five points in the quarter. When his shots weren’t falling Pearson was rebounding and chasing Halfon around the court. Meanwhile, Cherry Creek struggled to score when Halfon went to the bench.
Cherry Creek jumped out to an early lead in the third quarter and maintained a small lead through much of the third quarter be hind 10 points from Halfon. But the Chargers were able to keep the Bruins close and struck back to take the lead when junior Lucas St. Germain hit a three pointer and then sank three free throws after being fouled by Halfon on a corner three attempt. The Bruins were able to tie the score but this put back by senior guard Riley Welch put Chatfield up 38-36 at the end of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter saw two ties and three lead changes as both teams answered each others baskets. Senior Ammon Johnson and junior Jalen Meeks got on the scoring column for the Bruins and combined with Halfon to gain a one point lead in the final seconds. Pearson and senior forward Josh Fernette kept the Chargers in the game making big shots. Pearson went into the lane in the final seconds picked up a foul on his attempt. Then he stepped to the line with 3.4 seconds left.
Chatfield controlled the overtime period outscoring the Bruins 13-5. Pearson and Frenette again led the Chargers in the quarter combining for 10 of their 13 points. Halfon was the only Bruin that could score in the quarter.
Chatfield will face Overland in the 8:30 game at the Coors Events Center on Friday night.
