No-shows are shown up/ Widefield players boycott, but replacements

Taking a page from the Denver Nuggets earlier this year, two- thirds of the Widefield basketball team decided not to show up for practice on Wednesday.

Apparently, it thought practice following its loss to Lewis- Palmer the night before wouldn't be much fun at all.

Widefield coach Mark Munoz said fine, and elevated most of his junior varsity for Friday's Metro League home contest against Cheyenne Mountain.

Those who didn't show up for practice earned a one-game suspension.

The result: Munoz's club beat Cheyenne Mountain, 50-41.

"There are a lot of things we can teach as coaches - not only X's and O's - but hopefully some lessons that can build a little bit of character," Munoz said.

"We had 11 guys at practice and those are the 11 guys who dressed varsity tonight. I'm really proud of our seniors: Frank (Singleton) and Ryann (Little) were very good leaders and role models today."

Most of the players who didn't suit up still showed up for the game and cheered their teammates on.

"We had some kids who made a poor choice," Munoz said. "Hopefully the guys who made the poor decision have learned that there are consequences for certain choices that they make. We are going to battle back because I know they are good kids."

In the first quarter, it appeared Cheyenne Mountain might run away and hide. David Perkins and Adam Aragon put Cheyenne Mountain up, 14-8, at the end of the first quarter.

Widefield (9-4, overall 3-2 in the Metro League) caught its breath and Singleton started to do damage inside while Little and junior Adam Magalong lit it up from the outside.

Widefield outscored Cheyenne Mountain 20-3 in the second period to pull away.

Cheyenne Mountain (3-9, 0-4) played without two of its main offensive threats. Cranford Newell didn't suit up because of a torn abdominal muscle, while sixth man Jeff King has a broken finger.

"We played five sophomores on varsity tonight," said coach Warren Ruppert. "We are going to be taking baby steps."

- Troy Schwindt may be reached at 636-0250 or gtsports@gazette.com

Copyright 2001
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.