Ramsey: Sierra boys hungry for another state title

GOLDEN • Sierra senior star Kamryn Williams won’t say he expects to win another state title. That would be too arrogant.

He will say he wants — desperately wants — to reign again. He knows, after dancing on the court as champ last season, just how sweet it is to rule the state of Colorado.

“We are striving to win it again,” Williams said. “We are fighting for it. There is nothing better than winning the title. Last season’s title, that was the seniors’ title.

“This year, we want our own title.”

On Friday, Williams and his teammates took a step, a big one, toward a repeat. The Stallions pounded a Thomas Jefferson team drained by the suspension of two starters 65-43.

But you got the feeling TJ would have struggled to keep up with Sierra even if the Spartans had been at full strength. The win pushes the Stallions to the state semis Thursday in Boulder.

With the game tied at 33 in the third quarter and the title defense in severe danger, Williams shouted to his teammates, “We’re not going out without a bang.”

The shout certainly worked.

Sierra went on a 32-10 run to bury Thomas Jefferson. The fourth quarter turned into one long smack-upside-the-head of the hapless Spartans.

The Stallions compete with an impressive, endless hunger. They attack the game with a defensive style that verges on stalking and employ an aggressive, take-it-to-the-rim offense.

There’s also a steady brand of confidence. That’s the product of focused, diligent labor each day at practice.

It’s also the product of last season’s run to the championship.

Coach Otis Johnson said the title is a mixed blessing this season, but mostly a blessing.

“I don’t know if you would call it an advantage,” Johnson said. “Everyone wants a piece of us. Everyone knows if you beat the Stallions, you beat the state champs.

“But we do have that experience. We have that state championship.”

The title works for the Stallions in a way you might not expect. Johnson said wearing the crown keeps his players, using his word, “humble.”

His players know how much work is required to win it all. His players know how close they came to finishing second in the state last season.

Sierra won the title in ultra-dramatic style with a last-second shot over Pueblo South.

With 4:30 left in Friday’s game, TJ was still sticking around. The Stallions led 45-38 when Jahmall Fountain took a tough, heavily guarded 3-pointer from the corner.

Swish.

Thomas Jefferson was done.

A few minutes later, the Stallions enjoyed a brief celebration, with more emphasis on brief than celebration.

They’ll save their real celebrating for later.

They have their eyes on a much bigger prize.