The Torrington Blazer boys lasted for three games this year at state and did something they hadn’t for fourteen years: placed.

Since Torrington placed fourth a regionals, they faced the number one team Western side of the state on Thursday morning. Mountain View, lead by twenty-eight-point-averaging Kyle Bullinger, was definitely the favorite.

The two high-scoring seniors, Ryan Allen and Bullinger, battled throughout the first quarter and Bullinger was put in foul trouble partway through the second. Torrington was down nearly twenty partway through the second quarter and cut the Buffaloes’ lead to about fifteen by halftime.

The third quarter started with the Blazers getting a few buckets and Bullinger was taken out once again, giving Torrington a chance to pound the ball inside. Unfortunately, they didn’t take advantage of the opportunity and Mountain View’s guards scored consistently from the outside and undefended backside on the Blazer defense.

Bullinger was put back in during the fourth quarter and got a few more baskets, extending their lead to beat the very discouraged Blazer varsity. Although Bullinger scored at opportune times, he ended up with only fifteen points, nearly half of his average. “Mt. View was a good team and we just started off too slow,” commented senior Ryan Allen. Allen scored twenty-four, over half of the Blazers’ total score. Keenan Zimmerman and Aaron Smith also chipped in with four points a piece.

Although Torrington was defeated in the opening round, they still had a chance to place fifth if they won the consolation championship.

The Blazers faced the third place Western regional team Worland for their second game. Whoever lost would be going home. After both teams lost by a large margin, Worland to Buffalo, and Torrington to Mountain View, they were eager to prove themselves through this game.

Torrington jumped to an early lead in the first and second quarters, dominating the boards and taking advantage of the size difference. At half, it looked good for the Blazers and they were ready to finish the second half off strong. However, the second half consisted of Worland dominating on the offensive end and making key defensive stops. The game came down to the last few seconds when Worland had the chance to even the score, but they came out empty-handed.

Caleb Moore said, “Our first game was rough and didn’t go as expected but we turned it around and stepped it up to win as a team.” For the Blazers, Allen lead the Blazers once again with twenty-two of their fifty-four points and Courtney hitting a couple much-needed threes. Torrington looked forward to the next game on Saturday.

Saturday’s game between Lander, the fourth-place Western regional team, and Torrington determined who would place fifth and who would go home with nothing. The story was consistent throughout the entire game: Torrington dominated the both the offensive and defensive end.

Lander was small and quick, but they weren’t enough to slow the determined Blazers down.

Aaron Smith caught fire early in the game and ended up scoring nineteen for the Blazers, along with Allen scoring twenty, Caleb Moore and Austen Wisroth with fourteen each, Zimmerman with five, and Courtney chipping in with a bucket. “I don’t think we’ve ever played better as a team and it was a great way to finish off my senior season,” said Aaron Smith.

“I think we finally played how we were capable of, and it happened when it was imperative,” said head coach Darin Anderson. “We went on three two-game winning streaks which happened when they absolutely needed to. The seniors did a great job turning this team around when it was important and I’m extremely proud of them,” he added.