Simental Free Throws Sinks Vista Ridge
Pueblo West will play for it’s first boys basketball state championship today at 6:30 in the Coors Events Center after defeating the Vista Ridge Wolves last night in Boulder 65-54. The Cyclones and Wolves were tied after the first quarter after this shot by sophomore guard Noah Beatty at the buzzer.
Noah Beatty ties it up for Vista Ridge
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P west 14#coprepspic.twitter.com/ZkNSCdc7CY— basketballcolorado (@bball_co) March 11, 2016
The Cyclones held the Wolves to six points in the second quarter but could only muster 11 points themselves. The Wolves lead in the first half by Hunter Maldonado. The 6’6 junior wing scorer 12 points in the first half but was hampered by picking up two fouls in the first quarter. The Cyclones on the other hand used their fast breaking attacking offense to have a balanced scoring attack. The Cyclones did a great job of passing the ball ahead and then attacking from the wing before Vista Ridge could set up their defense.
The second half the Cyclones uses a 13-2 run to pull away from the Wolves. The run was lead by Nieyeme Smyer-Williams with back to back three’s. The Wolves however did not give up and kept firing away. Maldonado scored 27 points in the second half but the Wolves could not get the stops to cut into the Cyclones lead. The Cyclones junior guard David Simental was great in the second half scoring 21 points. Most his points came from the free throw line at crucial times when the Wolves were trying to get back in to the game. Simental finished 15/17 from the free-throw line.
Pueblo West will face Valor tonight at 6:30 for the 4A Championship
