By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — For the second consecutive year, the Wellington boys are in the Chaparral Roadrunner Classic Championship. The Crusaders advanced with an impressive 66-54 semifinal win over Kingman Friday night.

Wellington would pull itself out of a 17-4 first-quarter quagmire to tie the game at the end of the second quarter. Then an energized third quarter in which the Crusaders would outscore the Eagles 21-12 would lead to a double-digit win.

“Kingman came out and punched us in the mouth,” said Brian Buchanan, Wellington head boys basketball coach. “But the boys responded in the second and third quarter and took back the game. I really thought Colin (Reichenberger) gave us a spark tonight with his unselfish play.” 

Him and Trevor Nance, who would score 24 points.

“They put a box and 1 on (Nance) in the second half and for some reason he just flourishes when two defenders are on him,” Buchanan said.

After the first eight minutes though, nobody would have guessed that Wellington would be shooting free throws in the fourth quarter to preserve the lead.

Kingman would go on a 17-2 run in the first quarter that included a couple of treys, a few steals, and a Wellington technical foul to start the game. The score was 17-4 and looking ever bit like a Titanic ride for the Dukes.

But before quarter’s end Tyler Pettegrew would hit a trey to put Wellington within shouting distance 17-7 and spark a comeback.

That set up a second quarter in which Wellington would continue on its 10 point run and was within three 21-18 midway through the second stanza. A.J. Snipes hit a couple buckets late in the quarter to tie the game. Kingman led 28-26 at the half.

“Sometimes when teams have to make that huge comeback, they relax and fall behind again,” Buchanan said. “But we didn’t do that. We maintained the intensity through the third quarter.”

After securing its first lead in nearly 16 minutes, Wellington rolled to a 40-33 lead and was in front 49-42 going into the fourth.

Kingman didn’t exactly help itself in the fourth, throwing up shots that were bleak at best. Eventually Kingman was left with fouling. Wellington may have secured victory sooner had it made a few more free throws down the stretch. They were 13 of 22 in the fourth down the stretch. Buchanan said there would be lots of free throws going in – and there was. However, neither team shot the free throws particularly well. Kingman was 9 of 20 while Wellington was 17 of 32 for the game.

The Crusaders await the winner of the Chaparral – Clearwater game. Tipoff for the championship game is 6 p.m. Saturday.

Wellington 66 Kingman 54

Kingman 17 13 12 12 — 54

Wellington 7 21 21 17 — 66

Wellington: Gilmore 6, Phelps 9, Reichenberger 3, Nance 24, Pettegrew 5, Snipes 12, King 8. Total: 20 (3) 17-32, 66.

Kingman: Bradshaw 14, Adelhardt 8, Carson 10, Garrison 11, Maloney 8, J. Campbell 2. Total: 15 (5) 9-20 54.

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