CHSAA Championship Saturday, presented by Mile High Sports, in conjunction with ESPN Denver 1600.
The 4A Boys Championship pitted the 23-4 Lewis-Palmer Rangers against the 23-4 Valor Christian Eagles. Kayle Knuckles took control on both ends of the floor, as the senior forward finished the game with 32 points, 12 rebounds and a block to lead Valor Christian to a 68-55 victory.
Renaud Notaro and Doug Ottewill were on the call from the Denver Coliseum.
Quarter 1
Keisan Crosby led the way for Valor Christian with six points and the Eagles deployed a relentless press to force six Lewis-Palmer turnovers. Drew Blomberg hit a crucial 3-pointer for the Rangers to keep it a 15-10 game in favor of Valor Christian after one.
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Quarter 2
Lewis-Palmer’s Drew Blomberg hit a pair of 3-pointers to keep things within reach after Valor Christian went on a 10-2 run to start the quarter. Kayle Knuckles and Jalen Sanders each scored six of their 10 first-half points in the second quarter to pace the Eagles to a 27-21 halftime lead.
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Quarter 3
Lewis-Palmer chipped away at the Valor Christian lead to get within four, 34-30, before Jalen Sanders hit a big 3-pointer to slow the Rangers’ momentum. Angelo Battisstelli had six points in the quarter for Lewis-Palmer, but it was Kayle Knuckles who put up 10 in the quarter to extend the Valor Christian lead to 44-34 at the final break.
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Quarter 4
Kayle Knuckles took control on both ends of the floor in the final eight minutes, as the senior forward finished the game with 32 points, 12 rebounds and a block. Valor Christian led from wire-to-wire to deliver the Eagles’ first boys state basketball championship.
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