Rams hang on to beat University, will face No. 2 Sheridan

Staff Report
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado
March 8, 2008

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Class 3A Boys Basketball Playoffs

Bob Chavez Regional Championship Today at 1 p.m. at Sheridan High School No. 3 Roaring Fork (18-5) vs. No. 2 Sheridan (15-7)

DENVER — After not being able to buy a bucket in the Class 3A District 5 Championship against Aspen last weekend, the Roaring Fork boys basketball team got back on track on Friday night — looking like the usual Rams and draining shots from all over the court.

Good thing for the Rams, because University was just as hot. Roaring Fork proved to be just better however, as the Rams hung on for a 62-61 victory in the first round of the Bob Chavez Regional Tournament at Sheridan High School.

“We didn’t handle the pressure very well down the stretch, but we hung on to win,” said Roaring Fork head coach Roger Walters.

The Rams (18-5) were up by five with one minute to play and committed a costly turnover which No. 6-seeded University (14-10) took advantage of for a three-point swing. Roaring Fork missed opportunities to seal the game with free throws in the last minute, but still managed to keep the one-point lead.

The game went back and forth throughout, with the Rams leading by as much as nine in the first half and then trailing by as much as six in the second.

“They were really solid,” Walters said of University. “Both teams played well on both ends and they shot incredibly well and we shot incredibly well.”

Roaring Fork senior guard Matthias Weissl led the Rams by scoring 30 points after going 10-15 from the field. Torrey Udall recorded 26 points by shooting eight of 12 from the field and six of nine from the free-throw line. The 6-foot-8 post also grabbed 14 rebounds for a double-double.

Even with Udall’s 14 boards, Walters was not happy with his team’s rebounding.

“We rebounded terribly, pathetically,” he said. “It gave them a lot of second chances, but that is to their credit too. They were really aggressive.

The No. 3-seeded Rams will now play No. 2 Sheridan (15-7), who beat No. 7 Monte Vista 70-53 Friday night, at 1 p.m. today at Sheridan High School for the Bob Chavez Regional Championship and the chance at another trip to the state tournament in Fort Collins.

“We are just tickled to be alive, to survive and advance,” Walters said.