Hawks put on furious rally in fourth quarter to advance
HORIZON 40, PINE CREEK 37
thornton » Itwas this simple for Kylie Jimenez and the Horizon Hawks.
“We just wanted to win this game,” the junior said.
And they did— the Hawks, despite trailing by nine points in the fourth quarter, somehow turned it around Tuesday night. They rallied to defeat visiting Pine Creek 40- 37 at The Nest in Class 5A’s Sweet 16. Horizon will meet Highlands Ranch, a 70- 41 winner over Dakota Ridge, in the Great 8 on Friday at the Denver Coliseum.
Itwas a little more complicated for Horizon coach Charlie Arellano, but not much. The Hawks ( 20- 5) had actually played Pine Creek three days before Christmas in an out- of- state tournament and won 39- 24.
“I just think, the physicality, we weren’t ready for it,” the coach said of his Hawks, who have no seniors and three juniors. “I think it kind of shocked us. I told them thatwe can either back down or step up to it.”
They stepped up to it. Pine Creek, which began the game with five straight turnovers, recovered behind Emma List and Gabi O’Connor to grab the lead in the second quarter and kept it into the fourth.
However, Jimenez ( game- high 21 points) led a late surge along with Isabella Allen, Sydney Fields and freshman Alyssa Jimenez to gradually knock downan assortment of shots, force some turnovers and run down key loose balls.
Late free throws by Kylie Jimenez and Allen sealed it.
Oddly, the Eagles, who finished 20- 5, were playing under boys coach Joe Rausch. Kenny VanRyn resigned lastweek and officials were tight- lipped about the situation.
But Rausch said hewas asked to step in to help and felt good about helping. Late, he said, the Eagles seemed to playing “not to lose” and Horizon’s switch to aman- to- man defense seemed to bother them, particularly negating anything down low.
The rallying, Kylie Jimenez said, somehow makes it all worth it.
“We’ll never give up,” she said. “We may let down, but we’ll never give up. I’m not surprised with what we did. We’ve all played together for a long time.”
Th eHawks have won 13 games in succession, last losing to defending 5A state champion Broomfield on Jan. 15.
“We’re maturing and, I guess, finding ways to win,” Arellano said, “as opposed to finding ways to lose them.”