By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
WOW!! What a game it was in Des Moines Saturday evening as the Lady Demons squeaked one out over the Springer Lady Red Devils in a game that went down to the wire and a free throw as McKenna Hittson put in the winning points from the free throw line.
The girls knew it could go either way as Cimarron, Des Moines and Springer went into the tourney in a 3-way tie. The point spread put Springer in third while Cimarron and Des Moines battled for the top spot on Monday evening with Des Moines coming out on top 64-31. The last time Des Moines and Springer met Springer won the game 42-40 while at their first district meeting it was Des Moines winning it 64-46.
The game was a tight one all the way through with lead changes and the score never getting more than four points apart. It came down to who made the mistake or caused the turnovers. AS the girls took to the locker room at halftime Des Moines only lead by two 27-25. At the end of the third quarter it was 36-33. McKenna Hittson had the hot hand for Des Moines in the first half going four of five at the free throw line but went cold in the third as she missed five out of six free throws once again keeping the score close.
As the fourth quarter got underway it was Des Moines managed to break away and extend the point spread to eight and then 10. The Lady Red Devils however battled back with six quick points and then as the clock wound down it was the score was tied on the free throw by Alicia Arias. She missed the second shot to take the lead with six seconds on the clock. As the ball flew down the court with Hittson she was fouled. Hittson had been cold in the third but made up for it in the fourth when she went five of six before going to the line to put in the winning two shots. As the buzzer sounded it was Des Moines 54-52 over Springer.
Springer 13 12 8 19 52
Des Moines 17 10 9 18 54
Springer High Point
Alicia Arias 16 2 of 4 free throws
Katy Scott 14 4 of 6 free throws
Hannah Burton 11 6 of 9 free throws
Free throws 12 of 19 attempts
Des Moines High Point
McKenna Hittson 31 12 of 21 free throws
Natashia McDonald 8 2x 3-pointers
Free throws 12 of 22 attempts
Boys District 5A was a different match all together with Maxwell dominating the district going undefeated throughout district play. As the district championship game got underway in Maxwell the Springer struck first but the Bears tied the game at five and took off from there outscoring Springer 18-13 in the first quarter.
Kolton and Kaden Riggs, both boys are well over six feet tall, made it hard to shoot over them and thus redirected many shots to the outside where Springer fell flat. As the second quarter got underway Coach Brazil made adjustments to his game plan and sent Kolton Riggs down the lane for the short jumper where he knocked down 12 points and helped with the 22-9 point spread.
Springer finally put things together in the fourth outscoring Maxwell 19-14 with help from Owen Burton who sunk three 3-pointers however it was way to little to late as Maxwell marked the win column and the championship 71-51.
Springer 13 9 10 19 51
Maxwell 18 22 16 14 54
Springer High Point
Owen Burton 15 5x 3-pointers
Gabriel Garcia 14 3 of 3 free throws
Bryon Romero 9 0 of 1 free throws
Free throws 7 of 8 attempts
Maxwell High Point
Kolton Riggs 22 0 for 2 free throws
Carl Gonzales 20 0 for 2 free throws
Jeremy Archuleta 14 0 for 2 free throws
Free throws 6 of 10 attempts
