69 Chigua
After title heartbreak, Vanguard’s star leads march back to Denver
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Vanguard High School seniors are ready to re-write last year’s agonizing loss in the 3A state title game. “All they’ve been talking about is getting back,” head coach Joe Wetters said. Nearly a year removed from an 80-68 championship defeat to Manual, the Coursers have a re-loaded roster with experienced seniors and promising underclassmen. Leading the charge is guard Dominique Clifford, one of the top-ranked high school prospects in the state of Colorado. “We have the experience now from doing it last year,” Clifford said Thursday at practice. “We talk about just playing hard every game, taking every game seriously. We just have to stay focused mentally, up until we get to playoffs where every game is goring to be tough.” Clifford and the Coursers have locked in early, starting the season 11-1 with a 7-0 league record at the midpoint of the year. Part of Vanguard’s success is the chemistry in the starting lineup. Point guard Joe Padilla grew up with Clifford,
