GLENROCK – The Torrington High School Blazers came together to dominate the 3A East tournament in Glenrock with an undefeated run to snag the regional title and the No. 1 seed for the upcoming state tournament.

Torrington found redemption against Rawlins in the quarterfinals at regionals on Thursday, March 6 with a 57-52 victory against the Outlaws.

The semifinals pitted the Blazers against the No. 1-ranked and favorite, the Douglas Bearcats, on Friday. In true underdog fashion, Torrington pushed the rankings aside to control the scoreboard through four quarters and defeat Douglas, 46-45.

Advancing to the finals, the Blazers proved once again their capability to finish close, intense games with a 39-37 victory against Wheatland.

Rawlins

Torrington cruised past Rawlins in the first quarter, 19-11, before topping the Outlaws in scoring in the second, 11-10.

The teams headed for the locker rooms with the Blazers ahead, 30-21.

Torrington roared onto the court in the third quarter, more than doubling Rawlins in points, 13-5, to pull up, 43-26, as the fourth quarter commenced.

The final eight minutes of regulation were a point-for-point battle as the Blazers fended off an attempt by Rawlins to turn the tables.

Rawlins opened the fourth quarter with an 11-2 run to narrow Torrington’s lead to a few possessions, 45-37.

Senior Mac Hibben took possession and lined up for a close-range shot. Rawlins responded with a 3-pointer before senior Weston Dyer found an opening in the perimeter to score.

Hibben converted an and-1 and the Blazers remained ahead, 52-44.

Sophomore Julian Stromski went 2-for-2 at the free-throw line and junior Landre Greiman topped off Torrington’s win with three of four shots from the charity stripe in the final minute of regulation.

Douglas

The Blazers hit the court determined to throw the first punch in the opening eight minutes of regulation, anchored by solid rebounding and scoring.

Dyer snatched a steal on Douglas’ first possession and went on to convert an and-1. Senior Ryan Moorehouse lined up for a deep 3-pointer. Hibben wrangled a steal and Moorehouse scored from inside the perimeter.

Dyer forced another turnover with a steal and Greiman netted a pair of free throws. Stromski followed up with a jumper and reached up for a block. Moorehouse tossed in another close-range shot and Dyer rounded the first quarter out with a trey.

Torrington led by more than twice the points of its opponent at the end of the first quarter, 17-8.

Both teams scored 11 points in a physical second quarter. Dyer paced the Blazer offense with five points while Greiman, Stromski and sophomore Drew Kramer each contributed a bucket.

The halftime scoreboard favored the Blazers by nine points, 28-19.

Douglas responded in the third quarter with a 17-11 run. Hibben kept the Blazers on the scoreboard with four points while Moorehouse drained a trey and Dyer and Greiman both scored from the paint.

The Bearcats reduced Torrington’s lead to one possession, 39-36, at the beginning of the end of the third quarter.

Close-range shots by Hibben and Dyer, coupled with defensive rebounds by the pair, maintained the Blazers’ lead by two possessions, 43-39, early in the fourth quarter.

A 3-pointer from the Bearcats briefly made it a one-point game with Torrington up, 43-42, with 1:30 remaining in regulation.

Stromski drew a foul and scored once from the charity stripe, widening Torrington’s lead back to two points, 44-42, as the clock reached one minute.

Douglas netted another outside shot and the Bearcats took the lead, 45-44.

Stromski replied with a layup at 13 seconds for Torrington to regain the advantage, 46-45.

Defensive pressure by Moorehouse on Douglas’ final possession caused the ball to bounce off the rim as the final buzzer sounded and the Blazers punched in the win.

Two Blazers scored double digits against Douglas, led by Dyer with 15 points and Moorehouse 10. Stromski collected seven points with six apiece by Greiman and Hibben.

Wheatland

The Blazers won the first quarter against Wheatland, 9-6. Hibben led with four points while Dyer converted an and-1 and Greiman fired off a shot from inside the perimeter. Defensively, Hibben and Stromski both grabbed two steals while Hibben made a block in the first.

Torrington widened its lead to 11 points, 23-12, at halftime in a second quarter that saw the Blazers more than double the Bulldogs on the scoreboard, 14-6. Hibben set the momentum offensively with a pair of 3-pointers and a jumper. Moorehouse tallied four points while Stromski netted an inside shot.

Wheatland topped Torrington in scoring in the third quarter, 12-9, but the Blazers remained ahead, 32-24, as the fourth quarter commenced. Hibben tossed in another trey in the third and Dyer, Greiman and senior Brayden Hime each drained a close-range shot.

A 7-1 run by the Bulldogs early in the fourth quarter made it a one-possession game with Torrington up, 33-31, at 4:38.

Hibben fired back with an inside shot and Torrington led, 35-31.

Wheatland answered back to tie the game at 35 points with 3:03 remaining on the clock.

Dyer took possession and scored a jumper for the Blazers to retake the advantage, 37-35. Hibben rebounded a missed free throw and Dyer pulled down a defensive rebound on Wheatland’s subsequent possession.

Greiman scored from the free throw to widen Torrington’s lead to three points, 38-35, at 26.6 seconds.

Wheatland netted an inside shot at eight seconds. Greiman drew a foul and lined up for a free throw to keep the Blazers ahead, 38-37, at 2.8 seconds.

Greiman intercepted a pass by Wheatland on the Bulldogs’ final possession and the Blazers ended the game in control of the ball and the scoreboard.

Hibben paced Torrington in scoring against Wheatland with 18 points. Dyer collected seven points, Greiman six, Moorehouse four with two apiece by Stromski and Hime.