DENVER — Madden Smiley and the Wizards weren't going to be denied.
Not after a near-perfect start on the big stage and building such a huge lead.
The No. 3 Windsor boys basketball team led from the start and withstood a strong finishing push to defeat No. 6 Lewis Palmer 74-68 in the Colorado Class 5A Great 8 on Friday afternoon at the Denver Coliseum. I broke it.
Smyly finished with a double-double of 31 points and 11 rebounds with an impressive layup, floater and late free throw to almost get Windsor to the goal line.
“He was in full attack mode,” Windsor coach John Rakicki said. “There were a few times he took over the game. We were struggling to get into sets and he put his head down and created something.”
more:Windsor basketball's Madden Smiley has basketball in his blood as Wizards chase state title
It was an impressive effort for the sophomore, but not necessarily surprising.
He averaged nearly 17 points per game, but rarely had to carry the entire scoring load on a balanced Wizards team.
When the heat from the gunfight in Windsor died down, Smiley went to work.
They made 17 of 31 after halftime, taking advantage of Lewis Palmer's defensive strategy that prioritized taking 3-pointers.
“They weren't going to help our shooters and we knew that coming into the game,” Smiley said. “The mindset was to drive to the basket.”
It paid off, and one season later, with Windsor reaching the Final Four for the first time since 2011, it was back on the brink of a state championship. Last season, the Wizards lost in the semifinals.
There are also widely known but unspoken milestones in this state title race. The Windsor boys' last state (and national) championship took place exactly 100 years ago.
A photo of the 1924 team is also displayed in the Wizards' home locker room.
“We don't talk about it much, but everyone knows it,” Rakiecki said. “That would be pretty cool.”
For much of the first half, there was no doubt about this.
Windsor led 23-11 after the first quarter and increased its lead to 19 in the second quarter, leading 41-27 at halftime.
“That start really gave us a lot of energy. We were just nervous,” Smiley said. “Now I can play basketball.”
The Rangers, who have won two state titles since 2018, weren't going to go away quietly. In the 3rd inning, the score was down to 8 points. Still, Windsor briefly held them at bay and headed for a fourth goal.
But Lewis Palmer scored on six consecutive possessions at one point, cutting the lead to three points in the final minutes at 67-64.
“This is unprecedented against our defense,” Rakiecki said of the big run.
Windsor then scored with a mature final kick as the Lewis Palmer crowd went wild for a response.
Smyly found sophomore center Deacon Schmidt almost immediately and scored the most important two of his 12 points, pulling away in the final 90 seconds.
“We knew there was going to be an upset here in the Great Eight at the Coliseum,” Smiley said. “When they started running, our captain just calmed us down and finished strong.”
Johnny Reed had a great all-around game, scoring nine points and setting the tone by flying around on defense. John Backhouse added eight points, most of them during that hot start.
Smyly made four clutch free throws in the closing stages to seal a signature win and performance. He made 11 of 19 shots, scoring his first 30 points of the season, and added two steals and three assists.
“He grew a lot overnight,” Rakiecki said. “Madden was the player we needed.”
The Wizards will face the winner of No. 2 Vista Peak Prep and No. 7 Ponderosa, who will meet in the Great Eight later Friday night, in the semifinals on Thursday, March 7.
Windsor Girls ranked in Great 8
The Windsor girls' season ended without reaching the state title game for the first time in the Karin Nichols era.
Northfield, in 4th place, battled with the Wizards 66-55, leading the Nighthawks from behind in the third quarter to win the game in the Great 8.
No. 5 Windsor struggled with Northfield's combination of size and defensive pressure.
“Their head-on traps were very effective for us,” Nichols said. “They really punished us hard and I thought that gave them momentum.”
Northfield freshman center LaPortia Allen scored 22 points, making solid layups off post moves. Dynamic guard Madison Bethel also scored 16 points.
Rayleigh Hess did his best to keep Windsor in the game. The junior played through physical contact, scoring 18 points and grabbing a whopping 16 rebounds.
“Reilly was beaten down, but that didn't stop her, which shows how tough she is,” Nichols said.
University of Windsor freshman Nora Greenwald also scored 14 points.
The game was tied 27-23 at halftime, but pressure from the Nighthawks increased the lead to 15 points in the third quarter.
“The young guys were catching up to us. The moment looked really big for us in the third quarter,” Nichols said.
The Wizards returned to the Coliseum, and as Nichols pointed out, this was a very green Windsor team.
The team has no seniors, but Hess and junior Brooklyn Jilicek were the only rotation holdovers from last year's runner-up team. The Wizards advanced to the title game for the third year in a row.
Windsor should be back on this stage again next season, if not more.
“We grew and got better all year long,” Nichols said.
“I’m proud of them because I don’t think people expected us to be here.”
