With only half of a second left in the game, Jonathan Scott,12, stepped up for a free throw. The score was 54-54. The clock counted down as Scott took the shot. The ball left Scott’s hands and connected with the net as the game ended, putting the Rangers in the lead, 55-54.

Lewis-Palmer took the lead early in the game only to have Pueblo Central catch up in the third period.

“When I get nervous, I try to clear my head and just play,” Joel Scott, 9, said.

The nerves were high before the game, throughout each period and down to the half of the second. Not only the players were nervous, the crowd waited tensely, anticipating the oncoming shot. Jonathan Scott, 12, missed the first free throw, but shaked off the mistake because he got a second chance to score.

“I think we all were a little nervous in the beginning, I know I was,” said Hovasse. “I think the game was a big learning experience.”

Hovasse was one of the three players to make a foul into points by making free throws. Highlights of the game were the dunks made by Jonathan Scott and Billy Cook , 11, in the first half of the game.

“I think we should work on not fouling and not turning over the ball in the future,” Joel Scott said.

Finishing off the second period, 27-21, the Rangers were confident. What they did not suspect was Mark Ranson, 12, of the Pueblo Central Wildcats to score 39 points overall tying. Jonathan Scott and Ranson would exchange free throws until the final foul leading to the final shot by Jonathan Scott.

The team goal was to remain aggressive and identify with their personal goals.  The Rangers plan on keeping their confidence and to remain focused. As it goes for strategy, they plan on running their systems and and executing their shots.

“My main goal was to get our team focused on our goals,” said Hovasse.

The Rangers will go up against the Pueblo South Colts in an away game on December 3rd at 7:00 pm.