THORNTON – After blowing a big lead in what had been a nightmare second half for Legacy, the Lightning refocused in a wild final minute of regulation to force overtime.
Caden Sehr then calmly put this emotional roller coaster to rest.
Sehr hit six straight from the line in extra time and had 24 points, Jackson Stapleton added 14 points, including back-to-back 3s in the waning seconds of regulation, and Legacy beat Horizon 72-67 on Friday night in a game that featured 56 personal fouls and four players fouling out.
“We calmed each other, relaxed our minds and got the job done,” Sehr said.
Deep breaths.
After giving up a 14-point lead, the Lightning (12-5, 3-3 5A Front Range) went on a 7-2 run in the final 63 seconds of regulation to force overtime. Stapleton hit from deep twice in a matter of moments and Legacy trailed just 59-58 when Sehr went to the line with 2.4 seconds left.
The senior captain hit the first, momentarily quieting a rocking Horizon gymnasium. He then watched the second rattle in and out.
“You got to clear your head,” Sehr said. “It’s a new game.”
Sehr stayed aggressive in the overtime and got some quick redemption from the line. He hit 7 of his final 8 from the stripe, including four in a row to put the Lightning ahead for good after the Hawks were called for a foul and a technical.
“We trust him at the free throw line,” Legacy coach Connor Clay said. “Whether he missed the one that ices the game he’s the one I want (to go) next. … I knew he was going to make those free throws in overtime.”
Legacy finished the extra frame 9 of 14 from the line, while Horizon (10-7, 2-5 5A Front Range) was just 1 of 4.
Jack Olson added 19 points for the Lightning and was a perfect 8 of 8 from the line. Legacy redeemed a 63-60 home loss to Horizon on Dec. 19 with their third straight win in conference.
It was a near meltdown turned confidence builder.
“We all just had to calm down because the game was slipping for us,” Stapleton said. “Luckily we have good leaders and everybody calmed each other down.”
The high emotions on Friday night were only exasperated by an equal but rampant whistle as both teams ended the night with 28 personal fouls and 34 free throw attempts. Legacy was 24 of 34 and Horizon was 19 of 34.
As Legacy’s big lead faded in the second half, the Hawks went to the line 16 times to the Lightning’s three in a span of 11:48 to take a late lead.
Legacy answered with composure.
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Legacy 72 , Horizon 67 OT
At Horizon
LEGACY (12-5, 3-3)
Borelli 0 2-4 2, Wagner 1 0-0 2, Mullins 2 0-0 5, Sehr 5 11-15 24, Hanes 0 0-0 0, Olson 5 8-8 19, Servantez 1 0-1 3, Weber 0 0-0 0, Boeckenstedt 1 0-0 2, Stapleton 4 2-4 14, Esplin 0 0-0 0, Jackson 0 1-2 1. Totals 19 24-34 72.
HORIZON (10-7, 2-5)
Dragoo 0 1-2 1, Paris 2 1-4 5, Gallegos 2 3-5 7, Leyshon 0 2-6 2, Cirbo 4 3-6 11, Chand 2 1-1 6, Conkright 0 0-0 0, Bennett 3 4-4 12, Tena 0 0-0 0, Kennedy 0 0-0 0, Lawrence 7 4-6 23, Nitura 0 0-0 0, Trujillo 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 19-34 67.
Score by quarters:
Legacy1517131413—72
Horizon81517198—67
3-point field goals — Legacy (10): Stapleton 4, Sehr 3, Mullins, Olson, Servantez; Horizon (8): Lawrence 5, Bennett 2, Chand.
