Basketball

By  | Colorado Preps
February 26, 2023 at 4:22 p.m.

Peetz boys basketball’s rocky start to the 2022-23 season didn’t matter. That was in the rearview window when the Bulldogs took to the court for the Class 1A District 4 tournament last week.

The three games that followed were a new, mini season following their 7-12 regular-season record. The Bulldogs delivered. One by one, fourth-seeded Peetz systematically eliminated No. 5 Longmont Christian (50-43), No. 1 Briggsdale (62-56) and No. 2 Fleming (53-42).

With the sweep, the Bulldogs secured a guaranteed spot in the 1A regionals tournament, as each individual district champion moves on. They now hold a 10-12 record and came in at No. 25 in the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index. District champions in the top 16 of the index are guaranteed to host a district, so Peetz will likely have to travel.

The Bulldogs entered the tournament with a strong first half against Longmont Christian, netting 28 points through the first 16 minutes of play in comparison to the Warriors’ 21. They spent the last two quarters holding off their adversaries, only to secure the 50-43 win.

Freshman Rhyder Bayne caught fire, sinking 23 points. It was junior Noah Naegele, however, who put together the most complete game with an 11-point and 12-rebound double-double.

Briggsdale didn’t fare much better against Peetz, despite putting together an 18-10 first quarter. The Bulldogs worked their way back with a 15-9 second frame, only to take over in the second half — one inch at a time. Their 21 points in the fourth quarter — five more than what the Falcons were able to score — sealed the deal in crunch time.

Bayne once again took the reins of the offense with 22 points, followed by Naegele’s 15 and junior Chance Segelke’s 13.

That victory set the Bulldogs up for the District 4 finale with Fleming where, once again, Peetz took an early lead and never relinquished it. The team outscored the Wildcats 33-16 in the first half and rode that wave all the way to victory.

Bayne, the lone double-digit scorer, netted 31 points.

For the original article, go to https://www.journal-advocate.c...