Panthers open play today at state tourney

Panthers open play today at state tourney

Mar. 7, 2001

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

DENVER — Right now, they are the hottest-playing team in Class 4A. Montezuma-Cortez High School head coach Wade Mortensen has his boys playing very good basketball.

The Panthers, 17-7 overall and winners of their last eight straight including recent Regional wins over Valley and Fountain-Fort Carson high schools, are peaking just right.

"We are playing pretty well right now," Mortensen remarked. "I know that we are excited to being going. I think the way these kids feel right now is they could beat anybody. They are playing well and I hope it continues."

They are playing with a lot confidence right now, according to Mortensen.

This year’s edition of MCHS boys basketball is composed of junior 5-foot-7 guard Kyle Chandler, sophomore 6-0 guard Marcus Mortensen, junior 5-11 forward Billy Innis, junior 5-11 guard Gabe Evans, sophomore 5-11 Mike Rivas, senior 6-3 forward/post Chris Garland, junior 6-5 post Layne Frazier, junior 6-8 post Kyle Wilson, sophomore 6-4 forward Kirk Archibeque, sophomore 6-3 forward Jeff Anderson, and junior 5-11 Walt Pape. The assistants are Brad Jones and Mike Hall.

Coach Mortensen will probably start Mortensen, Evans, Garland, Frazier, and Anderson. Mortensen is averaging 15.5 points per game and dishing out eight assists per game.

The Class 4A boys tourney will be played today through Saturday, March 8-10, in the Pepsi Center.

The no. 12 seeded Panthers, after upsetting no. 5 seeded Valley 64-54 Friday night in Gilcrest, earned the right to take on Adams City (22-2) in the quarterfinals at 8:30 p.m. today. In the opposite bracket, top-seeded Mitchell (21-3) battles no. 8 seed Pueblo South (20-4) at 5:10. On the other side of the bracket no. 18 Sierra (12-12) tangles with no. 7 Widefield (18-6) at 3:30 and no. 14 Steamboat Springs (21-3) meets no. 11 Lewis-Palmer (20-4) at 6:30.

If the Panthers win, they will play at 3:30 p.m. Friday in the semifinals. The Class 4A Tournament does not play for consolation or third place. If they lose, it means a long trip back to Cortez and wait until next year. The other semifinal game is scheduled for 5:10 p.m. Friday. The championship game is set for 4:15 p.m. Saturday.

"Adams City has a very good basketball team," he said. "I think they have lost only two games all year. They beat Broomfield at the end of the year and Broomfield was rated no. 1 for a lot of the season. Adams City has not been to the State Tournament in something like 30 years (the Panthers last went in 1998 but lost to Sierra in the quarterfinals). They are tough. They have good height and decent team speed. I believe they have three exceptional players."

Tim Jones is probably the best of the three. The post player is averaging 20.3 points per game and pulling down 10.3 rebounds. A small forward, Lenny Miles is averaging 18.3 points and is averaging 2.0 three-pointers per game. David Birkle is scoring at a 16.2 clip per outing. The guards are Carmaine Sanders and Billy Jones.

Tickets are now on sale for the 2001 Colorado High School State Basketball Championships are now available.

Tickets may also be purchase starting that day at The Pepsi Center box office. A box office fee of $1.50 will be charged. The Class 4A boys quarterfinals (3:30, 5:10, 6:50 and 8:30 p.m.) will get under way. Reserved tickets only. Adult premium seats are $10 while upper level are $8 children and $7 seniors.