WINTER SPORTS TRIBUTE: Lightning boys basketball

BROOMFIELD, Colo. -

The keyword for the Lightning this year was transition.

First-year head coach Darren Clemenhagen was leading a squad with a new look that was adjusting to the loss of its standout, Trevor Noonan, who graduated and moved on to the Air Force Falcons.

"Trevor left a pretty big hole," Clemenhagen said. "He did a lot for this team, so now we need to get players stepping up to fill that hole."

Players being able to make the transition and step up was Clemenhagen's key to the season's success. He planned to rely heavily on the offensive production and leadership of senior Nick Noffsinger. Last season, he was Legacy's second leading scorer behind Noonan

The outside shooting of Jade Roberts also was expected to bolster the Lightning offense. The junior started the last five games of last season and was deadly accurate beyond the arc.

The Lightning this year also finally got to see transfer senior Walter Cooper in action. After transferring from Denver East, Cooper was forced to sit out most of last season because of Colorado High School Activities Association regulations.

The Lightning stayed on a roll for much of the season, making a Cinderella run for the Front Range League title. The fairy tale ended, however, on Feb. 17 when Legacy fell 73-48 to undefeated and top-ranked Fairview. Prior to that game, Legacy had won 14 of its past 15 games.

Legacy fell behind early, but made a valiant effort at making a run at Fairview.

The team got as close as nine points in its 18-point second period, turning to its inside game out of necessity. Roberts was particularly potent, rattling off six of his 11 points in the period fighting through a crowded lane.

Roberts and Cooper (10 points) each broke into double digits.

"In the first half, we showed some glimpse of being able to attack (Fairview)," coach Clemenhagen said. "But by the third quarter our kids were so mentally fatigued that you could see it."

Losing out on the title didn't mean Legacy would miss out on the postseason. The Lightning beat Horizon 57-52 in their first-round game, before falling 42-55 to Heritage in the second round.

Source: http://www.broomfieldenterprise.com/ci_12796684?source=rss_viewed

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