Lutomski gives Skyhawks lift

David Lutomski was on vacation when his Silverado teammates won their first three games in the National Invitational tournament at Durango.

The Skyhawks' junior forward made up for lost time Monday.

Fresh from an almost two-week hiatus, Lutomski came up with a pair of clutch rebounds, a stick-back basket and a blocked shot in a 25-second span late in the fourth quarter to help the Skyhawks hold off Canyon Springs 67-65 in the tournament's championship game.

"I just always try to go to the boards," Lutomski said. "I try to give the team whatever they need. It just worked out for me. I got some loose balls and some rebounds."

A 6-foot-6-inch reserve post player, Lutomski didn't enter the game until the second quarter, but finished with eight points and eight rebounds, and his biggest plays came in the final 80 seconds of the game.

With Silverado holding a 55-52 lead, Lutomski rebounded a missed Canyon Springs free throw and started his team up the floor in transition with an outlet pass.

He followed the play and hit a rebound basket with 1:09 left, then sprinted back down the floor to block a shot just six seconds later. That play eventually led to a pair of free throws and a Silverado 59-52 lead.

The Skyhawks led 67-60 with four seconds left before a 3-pointer by Chris Willis and a pair of free throws by Terence Stanley after an offensive foul by Silverado on the inbounds play brought the Pioneers to within two, but the Skyhawks ran out the clock.

"I just knew it was our turn," Silverado coach Ron Childress said. "We're still knocking on the door. We're not where we want to be, but I think people around town know when you play us, you have to come to play."

Lutomski hadn't played since Dec. 16. Silverado's scheduled game against Del Sol on Dec. 18 was postponed due to snow, and Lutomski was on a family vacation in Wisconsin when the tournament started. He returned Saturday night.

"He's a baseball player primarily, but he can be a good basketball player," Childress said of Lutomski. "He rebounds for us more than anyone on the team. He knows his role."

James Lata led the Skyhawks with 24 points on 10-for-14 shooting, and Wade Collie added 21 points and eight rebounds. Tournament Most Valuable Player Ali Sabra scored 10.

Willis led the Pioneers with 17 points. Jeremy Alexander scored 14, Michael Thompson added 13 and Stanley had 11.

Contact reporter Bartt Davis at bdavis@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5230.