CSCS boys get bulldozed in second quarter, fall 61-41 to Holy Family
FORT COLLINS – Holy Family!
CSCS was outscored 21-0 to end the first half in its 61-41 loss to the Tigers in the 3A quarterfinals Thursday at CSU’s Moby Arena.
Coach Mark Engesser could only shake his head after his top-seeded team (24-1) dropped its first game of the season.
“I feel bad that we played our worst basketball of the season in the second quarter,” he said. “We didn’t take care of the ball, had multiple turnovers. And (Holy Family) was very physical.”
In the second quarter, CSCS’ Reagan Chapman, who averages 2.5 points, scored the Lions’ first five points of the frame to give them the 17-13 lead.
It ended up being their only five points.
Over the next 6 minutes, Holy Family (16-9) all but sealed the game.
The Tigers’ Tanner Stuhr hit a 10-footer, made a couple of free throws and then converted a three-point play to make it 25-17. A handful of bad shots on CSCS’ end later, it was the scrawniest kid on the court’s turn. With arms of twigs, AJ Middleton swished a 3, converted a three-point play and then drove in on 6-foot-6 Kyle Broekhuis for a layup.
Another Holy Family free throw made it 34-17 at the half.
Senior Nate Engesser, the Lions’ leading scorer at 23.2 ppg coming in, was 1-for-8 for two points in the half.
“We couldn’t handle the pressure,” Engesser said. “We have no excuses.”
In the second half, the 6-3 guard scored 16 points on 4-of-15 shooting, but the deficit never dipped below 12.
“They made sure Nate didn’t go anywhere,” said coach Mark Engesser of his son.
The senior hit his team’s first seven points — a couple of layups and a 3 — to trim the lead to 36-24 with a dribble over 6 minutes left in the third.
Holy Family scored the next 12 points before CSCS’ Ryan Russell hit a deep 3 to end the quarter.
The 20-point deficit sufficed to the end.
“It’s been a fun season,” Nate said. “We have grown closer and I’ve liked it a lot.”
It didn’t start like this – with the Lions’ heads hung low.
Broekhuis scored CSCS’ first six points and it went up 10-4, then 12-8 to close the quarter.
The senior would score just four more points and finished with 10 points and nine rebounds. Engesser led the Lions with 18 points, but had 10 turnovers.
CSCS shot 29 percent from the field and hit just 4-of-20 from the perimeter.
Holy Family’s Stuhr led all scorers with 21. The Tigers shot 46 percent from the field and are headed to the 3A semifinals. CSCS plays a consolation game at 10:15 a.m.
Holy Family’s Tanner Stuhr and Colorado Springs Christian’s Kyle Broekhuis fight for the ball under the basket during the 3A state Great Eight Game at CSU on Thursday. Photo by DAVID R. JENNINGS, THE DAILY CAMERA
Colorado Springs Christian’s Nate Engesser tries to block a pass by Holy Family’s Kyle Willis during the 3A state Great Eight Game at CSU on Thursday. Photo by DAVID R. JENNINGS, THE DAILY CAMERA
Holy Family’s Tanner Stuhr gets to the basket against Colorado Springs Christian’s Kyle Broekhuis during the 3A state Great Eight Game at CSU on Thursday. Photo by DAVID R. JENNINGS, THE DAILY CAMERA