Peterson’s Game Winner Lifts Lakewood Over Hinkley
By Matt Langley
www.BasketballColorado.com
1/13/2015
Aurora, CO – The Lakewood Tigers travled to Hinkley High School on Tuesday night and defeated the Thunderbirds 60-57 in a sometimes sloppy but thrilling game. Lakewood’s sophomore guard Kolton Peterson had a career night. The sophomore scoring sensation poured in 40 points, grabbed at least 5 rebounds and threw 3 assists. Despite Peterson’s scoring prowess the Thunderbirds made runs of their own to gain leads of seven and as many as 11 points at various stages of the game. In the end however it would be Peterson that was the difference.
The Tigers started out on a rolled behind Peterson’s three 3’s and held a 14-5 lead with nearly two minutes left to play in the first quarter. The Thunderbirds struggled to convert inside the paint and failed to get any offensive rebounds in the first quarter. In fact both teams struggled with this portion of the the game. Neither team was able to establish a presence on the offensive glass. Peterson then ended the quarter with this play that gave the Tigers a 16-7 lead.
The second quarter was all Hinkley. The Thunderbirds outscored the Tigers 16-5 in the quarter by getting contributions from six different players. Seniors Ahonsi Ohimai, Jorden Garcia and Tysza Smith all provide a much need spark in the quarter. Meanwhile the Tigers looked like a junior varsity team, which makes sense considering that 8 out the 12 players on the roster are sophomores. The Thunderbirds held the Tigers scoreless for the first 4:09 of the quarter and then held them scoreless for another 3 minutes until Peterson hit another 3 with less than a minute until half time. The Thunderbirds held a 25-21 lead at halftime.
In the third quarter both teams made runs. It was the Tigers turn first, going on a 15-6 run to start the half. Peterson scored 12 of the 17 points in the 4:30 stretch after halftime giving the Tigers a 38-31 lead. Then Hinkley answered with a 9-2 run of their own in the last 3:14 of the quarter again a team effort but driven by junior guard Solomon Proctor. The Thunderbirds hung on to a 43-40 at the end of the quarter.
It looked as if the the Thunderbirds were about to take off and hide with the lead in the fourth quarter. After a Peterson 3 at the outset of the quarter the Thunderbirds held the Tigers to only two free throws the next 5:00 of the quarter. Ohimai scored 4 points in that that stretch for Hinkley and after a rare offensive put back by senior forward Kelsey Williams the Thunderbirds held 55-44 lead with 3:23 left in the game. The shot that freshmen DeWayne Carter hit with 2:35 left in the game, that would be Hinkley’s last points. With the Thunderbirds up 10 points the lead seemed safe, Hinkley had momentum on their side, they had been grabbing offensive rebounds and converting, all the while holding Lakewood to one shot opportunities. The Thunderbirds seemed content to try to hold on to the lead by trying to stall and run clock. Lakewood started forcing Hinkley to turn the ball over. Peterson then caught fire again raining in two 3 pointers from 24 feet plus. While Lakewood struggled on the offensive boards all night they got the one that mattered when sophomore Dylan Bailey grabbed rebound and forced up a shot from underneath the rim that went in to tie the game at 57. Hinkley then turned the ball over on a player control foul while going for an offensive rebound which set the stage for Peterson again.
Peterson’s game winner gave him 40 points on the night.
Double Figure scorers
Lakewood
Peterson 40
Hinkley
Ohimai 10
Powell 10
