No matter Lewis-Palmer’s efforts, Coronado refused to let the Rangers close the metaphorical casket. Then Ryker Odendahl pulled out the hammer and nails and finished the job. Odendahl entered Wednesday’s matchup averaging 2.8 points per game and 14 total in four contests. But the Rangers guar d scored 10 in the final 4:54 of the fourth quarter at Coronado to help the Rangers boys basketball team secure a 63-55 victory. “I didn’t want to let my team down,” Odendahl said. “I didn’t want to lose. I knew I needed to go hard for my team.” Last year, in their first meeting since 2012, the Rangers (4-3) cruised to a 73-41 victory over the Cougars. But Coronado (3-4), entered this matchup with as many wins through six games as they had all last season (3-20). “We have dudes who like to be in the gym and knew this would be a tough one,” L-P senior Jonas Miller said. “We had guys who are locked in and they were ready for this season and ready for what Coronado would bring.” After four first-quarter lead changes, Lewis-Palmer took a 14-13 advantage to the second and clung to a 30-27 halftime lead. Miller, who finished with 20 points, scored five in the opening minutes of the third and Coronado trailed 37-27, the Rangers’ largest lead of the night, with 5:53 on the clock.  But a timeout and full-court press allowed the Cougars to cut that lead to 37-36 with 3:48 left in the third. An 11-6 run capped by a pair of made free throws by Miller pushed the Rangers’ lead to 48-42. The Cougars never relented and trimmed the advantage to 48-45 after Brayden Richardson nailed a corner 3-pointer near the Cougars’ bench with 2 seconds left.  Lewis-Palmer built a 52-48 fourth-quarter lead with 5:51 on the clock. Then the Cougars used a 5-0 run capped by a Collin Wolf steal and layup to give Coronado a 53-52 lead, its first since 2:06 left in the second period. “We knew we just had to stay calm and trust our coaches and trust each other,” Odendahl said. “We know our system and if we keep playing hard, everything will fall into place.”  Odendahl was the key cog in the machine that sealed the game for Lewis-Palmer, which finished the night with 11 made 3-pointers. Lewis-Palmer finished the game on an 11-2 run and Odendahl scored 10 of the final 11 Rangers points. Odendahl sank a corner 3 to give the Rangers a 55-53 lead with 4:54 left. Coronado’s Lyrik Smith tied it at 55-all with 4:35 left, but the Rangers’ 1-2 punch of offense and defense held Coronado scoreless the remainder of the game while Odendahl continued his onslaught. “We needed him in there,” Miller said of his teammate’s fourth-quarter performance. “The intensity he had on the court and his defense was great. That brought more energy and we knew with him on the court that we had to finish the game.” Odendahl’s steal and layup followed by another 3-pointer put the Rangers up 60-55 with 3:28 on the clock. Miller hit a free throw late in the contest and Odendahl scored on a layup as the buzzer sounded to give the Rangers their fourth win. “After that first shot went through, I had a lot more confidence in myself,” Odendahl said. “I kept trusting myself and kept letting it fly. I know I’m a great shooter and if I get a good look, I know it’s going in. I just had to continue to trust myself and believe that my shot would eventually fall.” ...read more read less