MELROSE WINS THIRD TITLE IN FOUR SEASONS
FINAL SCORE
#5 MELROSE 54
#2 FORT SUMNER 50
RECAP
The old Highway 60 rivalry between the two took a Buffalo turn this postseason. After dropping their first two games against the Foxes this season by a combined 7 points, Melrose avenged those losses by winning the district championship by four. Then the two teams met in the state Class 1A final where Melrose took win number two for another championship. This time the state championship.
Fort Sumner is known for those long bombs from beyond the arc but this game would prove those bombs to be duds. Starting the opening quarter Fort Sumner was 0-for-6 from deep. Meanwhile, Melrose using their size in Devon Bailey and Tate Sorgan helped put the Buffs' ahead early. Guard Dylan Valentine did a good job establishing himself as a threat from the arc with 2-for-2 shooting in the first half. It didn't take long though for Fort Sumner's number one scoring option in Jude Segura to find some rhythm when he scored 8 of his 22 in the second quarter. Suddenly, Fort Sumner was back in the game and Melrose was in danger of losing control of the pace of the game. After halftime, where Melrose took a 28-19 lead, Fort Sumner would outscore the Buffs' 17-9 to trail by only one point late. The fourth quarter proved to be just as interesting but again, Fort Sumner's three point shooting was not present. When the opportunity presented itself late, Fort hit one three by Segura before the game wrapped. Fort would finish with a dismal 5-of-35 shooting for 14% from the field. Meanwhile, Melrose did sort of hit free throws late to maintain the lead, despite giving Fort ample opportunities to get back in the game. Melrose did just enough behind the efforts of their guards Valentine, Tristan Sena, and Trace Jackson. This is Melrose's 6th state title, their third in four seasons, and first back-to-back state titles since their 1992 and 1993 run.
TEAM STATS
MELROSE
FG% - 17/47 - 36%
3PT% - 5/11 - 45%
FT% - 15/37 - 41%
4 steals, 62 rebounds, 3 blocks
19 turnovers
22 points in the paint
2 fastbreak points
2 bench points
FORT SUMNER
FG% - 20/73 - 27%
3PT% - 5/35 - 14%
FT% - 5/7 - 71%
9 steals, 45 rebounds, and 1 block
8 turnovers
22 points in the paint
10 fastbreak points
9 bench points
PLAYER STATS
MELROSE
Dylan Valentine - 15 points and 12 rebounds
Tate Sorgen - 12 points and 11 rebounds
Tristan Sena - 10 points and 10 rebounds
Trace Jackson - 9 points and 3 rebounds
Devon Bailey - 6 points and 5 rebounds
Chazz McAlister - 2 points and 5 rebounds
FORT SUMNER
Jude Segura - 22 points and 12 rebounds
Noah Maxwell - 10 points and 5 rebounds
Jayden Terrell - 5 points and 2 rebounds
Cory Terrell - 5 points and 6 rebounds
Alex Moyer - 4 points and 4 rebounds
Kane Burney - 4 points and 4 rebounds
FINAL SCORE
#5 MELROSE 54
#2 FORT SUMNER 50
RECAP
The old Highway 60 rivalry between the two took a Buffalo turn this postseason. After dropping their first two games against the Foxes this season by a combined 7 points, Melrose avenged those losses by winning the district championship by four. Then the two teams met in the state Class 1A final where Melrose took win number two for another championship. This time the state championship.
Fort Sumner is known for those long bombs from beyond the arc but this game would prove those bombs to be duds. Starting the opening quarter Fort Sumner was 0-for-6 from deep. Meanwhile, Melrose using their size in Devon Bailey and Tate Sorgan helped put the Buffs' ahead early. Guard Dylan Valentine did a good job establishing himself as a threat from the arc with 2-for-2 shooting in the first half. It didn't take long though for Fort Sumner's number one scoring option in Jude Segura to find some rhythm when he scored 8 of his 22 in the second quarter. Suddenly, Fort Sumner was back in the game and Melrose was in danger of losing control of the pace of the game. After halftime, where Melrose took a 28-19 lead, Fort Sumner would outscore the Buffs' 17-9 to trail by only one point late. The fourth quarter proved to be just as interesting but again, Fort Sumner's three point shooting was not present. When the opportunity presented itself late, Fort hit one three by Segura before the game wrapped. Fort would finish with a dismal 5-of-35 shooting for 14% from the field. Meanwhile, Melrose did sort of hit free throws late to maintain the lead, despite giving Fort ample opportunities to get back in the game. Melrose did just enough behind the efforts of their guards Valentine, Tristan Sena, and Trace Jackson. This is Melrose's 6th state title, their third in four seasons, and first back-to-back state titles since their 1992 and 1993 run.
TEAM STATS
MELROSE
FG% - 17/47 - 36%
3PT% - 5/11 - 45%
FT% - 15/37 - 41%
4 steals, 62 rebounds, 3 blocks
19 turnovers
22 points in the paint
2 fastbreak points
2 bench points
FORT SUMNER
FG% - 20/73 - 27%
3PT% - 5/35 - 14%
FT% - 5/7 - 71%
9 steals, 45 rebounds, and 1 block
8 turnovers
22 points in the paint
10 fastbreak points
9 bench points
PLAYER STATS
MELROSE
Dylan Valentine - 15 points and 12 rebounds
Tate Sorgen - 12 points and 11 rebounds
Tristan Sena - 10 points and 10 rebounds
Trace Jackson - 9 points and 3 rebounds
Devon Bailey - 6 points and 5 rebounds
Chazz McAlister - 2 points and 5 rebounds
FORT SUMNER
Jude Segura - 22 points and 12 rebounds
Noah Maxwell - 10 points and 5 rebounds
Jayden Terrell - 5 points and 2 rebounds
Cory Terrell - 5 points and 6 rebounds
Alex Moyer - 4 points and 4 rebounds
Kane Burney - 4 points and 4 rebounds
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