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DENVER — The nice, neat round number had to wait a year.
For Windsor, the wait was worth it.
The Wizards are finally state champions again, beating No. 16 Green Mountain 60-49 in the Colorado Class 5A title game to win the program's first Colorado boys basketball championship in 101 years Saturday night at the Denver Coliseum.
Madden Smiley poured in 25 points, wrapping up a legendary season and likely sealing 5A Player of the Year honors.
John Backhaus was his running mate, pacing the Wizards in a frenetic first half with three 3-pointers en route to 18 points of his own.
While Green Mountain (18-10) came out strong with a 10-3 run, No. 6 Windsor had every counter punch, like it's had throughout these 5A playoffs.
The Wizards swarmed the Rams and made life uncomfortable for star Simon Lunsford, who finished with just 5 points.
This was an ultimate exorcism for Windsor, which has been so close the last two years, making the Final 4 in 2023 and the title game in 2024 before falling to Mesa Ridge.
That's old news new, as ancient to these Wizards as Windsor's last state title — a national championship — in 1924.
That year adorned Windsor warm-up shirts for much of the season, a reminder of the history at stake.
Now, these Wizards have made history of their own.
This story will be updated with addition postgame context. Return to coloradoan.com/sports for more.
Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Windsor quiets Green Mountain to win Colorado basketball title
Continue reading...
For Windsor, the wait was worth it.
The Wizards are finally state champions again, beating No. 16 Green Mountain 60-49 in the Colorado Class 5A title game to win the program's first Colorado boys basketball championship in 101 years Saturday night at the Denver Coliseum.
Madden Smiley poured in 25 points, wrapping up a legendary season and likely sealing 5A Player of the Year honors.
John Backhaus was his running mate, pacing the Wizards in a frenetic first half with three 3-pointers en route to 18 points of his own.
While Green Mountain (18-10) came out strong with a 10-3 run, No. 6 Windsor had every counter punch, like it's had throughout these 5A playoffs.
The Wizards swarmed the Rams and made life uncomfortable for star Simon Lunsford, who finished with just 5 points.
This was an ultimate exorcism for Windsor, which has been so close the last two years, making the Final 4 in 2023 and the title game in 2024 before falling to Mesa Ridge.
That's old news new, as ancient to these Wizards as Windsor's last state title — a national championship — in 1924.
That year adorned Windsor warm-up shirts for much of the season, a reminder of the history at stake.
Now, these Wizards have made history of their own.
This story will be updated with addition postgame context. Return to coloradoan.com/sports for more.
Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Windsor quiets Green Mountain to win Colorado basketball title
Continue reading...
