RSS FeedCOLORADO SPRINGS - Last week, the Beacon printed the results of the State Games of America held in Colorado, in which the Hot Shots of Grants played. The local team finished one game and out of the tournament to the Rockies Black 2013, who went on to crush the other teams for an easy first place. This is the story of that game, as scores do not always reflect accurately.
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Coach Marty Zeller made the choice to put the team's best free throw shooter in the game. Teige missed both and the Rockies rebounded.
The Colorado team brought the ball down and missed a shot, Zeller jumped hands in the air and brought down the rebound to the sound of the whistle.
Over the back and Teige drew her final foul. With tears she approached the bench and high fived her substitute for good luck.
The Hot Shots lead began to wane, when they were hit with another blow. Sydney Marez fouled out with five minutes left in regulation play.
Overtime. With only seven players traveling to Colorado Springs, the team was down to its last five.
With 2:08 left in overtime, the Hot Shots could only field four players.
As other teams heard about the game, the gym began to fill. Chants for the underdog began to roar as the Hot Shots matched their opponents in buckets.
The Rockies got a foul and sunk both with 4.9 seconds to go for the lead.
Coach Zeller told Myranda Rodriguez - drive the ball. Draw a foul or a charge.
Wasting little time Rodriguez crossed half court and went for a shot near the charity stripe. No luck. A whistle blew and the buzzer sounded.
After a conference, the referees told the coaches the whistle for a foul was after the game had ended. The Rockies had the win at 48-46.
One of the tournament coordinators warned Coach Zeller that his team, compiled of mostly eighth graders, wouldn't stand much of a chance against the best sophomores around Denver and the state.
The Colorado team had on average two years more experience than the Hot Shots. The home team went on to win all their games in the single elimination tournament.
Comments
David wrote on Aug 10, 2009 11:37 AM:
With 3 players fouled out and only 4 players on the floor the team played with grit and determination. The guards were able to push the ball up the floor against a pressure defense to find the open player or finish the play with some great lay ups. The players on the bench never stopped cheering for their team mates and the coaches strategized brilliantly to the very end of the game. The Hotshots were able to challenge the eventual tournament winner to a 2 point overtime loss. Congratulations to all the Hotshots players and coaches—you represented your program and community to the highest level. "
David wrote on Aug 7, 2009 3:03 PM: