Warriors remember O'Rourke

Thursday night, nobody did.

With O'Rourke's chair left purposely vacant, covered with a powder blue-and-white wreath, the Warriors battled through a full spectrum of emotions before falling to Canyon del Oro 59-49 at Lever Gym.

The game came a night after the team learned O'Rourke, 55, had been found dead at his Foothills-area apartment. O'Rourke had been on paid leave — and away from the team — since Jan. 9.

"Coach would have wanted us to play," said senior guard Kris Bracamonte. "It was just another game night. Coach was with us."

The game started with a fitting tribute.

After the teams cleared the court, a Pueblo assistant placed O'Rourke's chair at midcourt and put the wreath — emblazoned with the word "Coach" on it — on top of the seat.

The public-address announcer then read a tribute that called O'Rourke "the heart and soul of Pueblo basketball" before holding a moment of silence in his honor.

The Warriors then went on to play some of the most inspired ball of the season. They stayed close with CDO — tied for first place in the 4A Sonoran Region — through the first half and, after falling behind in the third quarter, gave the Dorados all they could handle in the final eight minutes.

They all but eliminated a 37-31 deficit early in the fourth quarter, and cut the lead to 43-41 when Bracamonte hit a basket with 4:30 remaining.

After a pair of free throws by Max Worth gave the Dorados a four-point lead, Pueblo's Cris Rodriguez hit a three-pointer to make it 45-44.

Pueblo battled back again later in the quarter. CDO hit back-to-back baskets to make it 53-48, but Pueblo responded with layups by Bracamonte and Carlos Sierra to get back in the game with 2:20 left.

CDO put the game away with a basket from Worth and a pair of free throws from Jake Larrow. Following the game, Dorados coach Nainesh Desai was quick to praise the Warriors' effort.

"They played very hard, and they had a lot of heart," he said.

"We've played them three times this year, and they definitely played the best I've seen them play."

It's a wonder Pueblo played at all.

Thursday's game had originally been cancelled by Pueblo principal Patricia J. Dienz, who believed the team needed a day to mourn their coach and mentor.

But when Dienz called players Wednesday night to tell them about O'Rouke's death, she noticed the Warriors wanted to play.

"By the third or fourth kid, their parents were telling me that the kids wanted to play," she said. "Pretty soon, it became pretty obvious that most of the kids were interested in playing anyway."

Thursday morning, the team voted unanimously to go ahead with the game. They spent the rest of their school day meeting with grief counselors before focusing on basketball.

"It meant a lot to the boys to play," interim coach B.J. Quarrell said. "We talked, and we realized that we could either use it as therapy or it could be an emotional drain on them."

Players said the game was therapeutic.

Each Warrior wore a black sweatband on his left arm in honor of O'Rourke.

"We wanted to comfort each other," Bracamonte said, "because coach always said we were family."

The Warriors won't have an easy week. They will return to the court tonight for a game at Rincon/University and attend O'Rourke's funeral Saturday afternoon.

The team will play its final home game of the season Tuesday against Marana.

Quarrell said Pueblo's coaches and players will wear Hawaiian shirts, one of O'Rourke's trademarks, in their final game to remember their coach.

"We're going to finish our season with our heads held high," Quarrell said. "They're pretty drained right now. They left all of their hearts on the court. You can't ask for anything more than that."

FINLEY'S FRIDAY NOTEBOOK will return next week.

Contributors to this page:

Andrew Nintzel (girls spotlight), Duane Clifford (boys spotlight). Prep Star photos by Angela Pittenger (Torres) and Keith Cobbledick (Moriel).