Elite Eight
In an exciting Elite Eight showdown, the boys basketball team secured its spot in the Final Four with a hard-fought 72-64 win against Dakota Ridge on March 8. The game, held at the Denver Coliseum, showcased the determination and skill of the Wizards as they battled their way to the next round of the state tournament.
From the opening tip-off, both teams fought hard for the starting lead, but Windsor established a lead early on in the game. Madden Smiley (11) led the team with 25 points this game, while Brady Kingsley was just a bit behind him with 23 points this game, which kept the momentum of the game in Windsor’s favor. Varsity player Morgen Sholder (11) gave a rundown of the game: “We had a good game, but there is still work to be done, it’s not over till it’s over.”
Dakota Ridge fought back the whole game, closing the gap in points with fast breaks. However, the Wizards held strong with their defense, while the offense made points to help their point lead stay strong. As the clock ran out of time, the Wizards kept their composure, sealing their victory.
Head coach Jonathan Rakiecki complimented the team’s effort, saying, “This season has gone as good as it could. I’m happy at where we are, and so are the boys.”
The win not only pushed the Wizards to that Final Four spot but also kindled excitement among the school in hopes of winning the state title for the first time in 101 years.
Final Four
Windsor’s next challenge was a highly anticipated match, being that they were beaten in the finals by Mesa Ridge last season. With the Wizards’ eyes set on winning the championship, the goal was to bring the state title back to the wall of the WHS gym.
As the Wizard community rallied behind the team, Windsor’s school spirit slowly sparked again. The Wizards were ready to take on the challenges that came with the Final Four, and Windsor was eager to see if they could finally take back that state championship title.
The Wizards dominated in the Final Four, beating Mesa Ridge in a tight game with a score of 71-62 on March 15.
State Championship
At last, the team had one more challenge: a game against Green Mountain on March 16.
The final game was close; Green Mountain led in the first quarter and the first part of the second quarter, but the Wizards came back with resilience to win the game. The Wizards ended up leading for the rest of the game.
As the clock ran down in the fourth quarter, the excitement in the Denver Coliseum from Wizards fans was electric. Adyson Roles (11) was a cheerleader at the game. “The environment was crazy; people were running with flags. You could tell that this was going to be a memory that would last a lifetime,” Roles said.
Once the clock ran out, it was official: Windsor had won their first state championship since 1924.
“I’m really proud of this team; these individuals decided to put the team first instead of themselves, and that’s what motivated us to prove we were good enough,” Rakiecki said.
