Lamar Savage Sports Weekly Report, February 12, 2014

It has been a busy week for the winter sports teams at Lamar High School, with both basketball teams playing three games each, and the wrestlers squaring off in three duals. The Lady Savages, and the Savage wrestlers each went undefeated during the week, while the Savage basketball squad struggled to an 0-3 record during the span.

The Lady Savages showed they are worthy of their top three ranking in the Class 3A poll from Colorado Preps, winning two of their three games by large margins. Lamar started off by hosting their rivals from La Junta last Friday night, and they were unable to shake the Lady Tigers for the bulk of the evening.

Lamar led 16-10 after one period, but the Lady Savages could only take a 23-19 lead into the intermission. Neither team did much on offense in the third, but a 6-2 advantage in the frame gave Lamar an eight-point lead heading into the fourth. La Junta tried to make a late run, but the Lady Savages were able to hold them off, earning the victory by a 39-34 count.

A road trip to Pueblo Centennial was next up for Lamar, as the Lady Savages visited the Lady Bulldogs last Saturday. After a 13-8 first quarter, Lamar maintained a five-point edge through the next two periods. The teams headed into the fourth quarter with the Lady Savages leading 38-33. They pounded their hosts 18-5 in the final frame to secure their 16^th consecutive win, 56-38.

Finally, the Lady Savages blasted Ellicott on Tuesday, 69-21. Lamar led 15-3 after one period and 35-6 at the half. The Lady Savages will close out their home schedule on Friday when they host Trinidad. That will be followed by a trip to St. Mary’s on Saturday, that will conclude the regular season.

Lamar’s boys basketball team had the exact opposite week, losing all three games to La Junta, Pueblo Centennial and Ellicott. Last Friday’s home game with La Junta started off with the Savages trailing the Tigers by five after one period, 15-10, thanks to a buzzer-beating three by Casey Weber of the Tigers. La Junta rode that momentum to a 54-34 victory.

Pueblo Centennial avenged an earlier 57-54 loss to the Savages by handing Lamar a 65-50 defeat on Saturday. The Bulldogs took care of business early, outscoring the Savages 24-10 in the first quarter. Lamar struggled to get out of the blocks well in the third quarter, too, as Pueblo Centennial outscored them 18-7 in that frame.

In Tuesday’s 67-50 loss to Ellicott, it was the even quarters that did Lamar in. The Savages were outscored 31-18 in the second and fourth quarters, negating their strong play in the first and third periods. That loss stretches the losing skid of the Savages to seven games. They’ll try to end that streak this weekend as they visit Trinidad on Friday and host St. Mary’s on Saturday.

Lamar’s wrestlers dominated three league opponents in duals last week, beginning with a 63-9 thumping of rival La Junta last Thursday at the Community Building. Lamar won 11 of the 12 matches that were contested, eight of them by pinfall. Each team received a forfeit, and the Tigers earned a decision victory 145 pounds.

Saturday had the Savages in a pair of Cross Divisional duals at Salida. Lamar opened with a 59-18 victory over The Classical Academy, winning nine of 12 matches, and also receiving forfeits at the two heaviest weight classes. Six of the nine wins came by pin. All three of TCA’s wins were by pinfall.

The regular season wrapped up with a 65-15 victory over Florence, in which the Savages won 10 of 13 matches, while also receiving a forfeit at 285. Nine of the wins were by pinfall, and the other came by way of technical fall. The Huskies claimed one victory by pin, one by decision, and the final by an injury default, as Colin Mahanay was unable to go at 170 pounds.

Lamar’s next action will be Friday and Saturday, at Classical Academy. Any Savage who finishes in the top four of his weight class will qualify for next week’s state tournament at the Pepsi Center.

By Kerry Sherman

Kerry Sherman and his wife, Colleen, moved to Lamar in August of 2013, from Anton, Colorado, to cover Southeastern Colorado high schools for Colorado Preps. Kerry is in his third year of streaming high school sports online for Colorado Preps, and this is his 23rd year of covering high schools for various print and online outlets throughout Colorado. He also has nine years of coaching experience, with the boys basketball programs at Woodlin and Otis.