DENVER • There are two viewpoints that can be taken from a performance like this. And Cohen Edmondson knows it is the gnawing one that will stick with him for now.

Edmondson’s No. 6 Lewis-Palmer squad fell into a 20-point hole against No. 3 Windsor in the 5A boys’ quarterfinals Friday at the Denver Coliseum.

They climbed to within three points in the final two minutes before ultimately falling 74-68.

There was obviously some pride in the comeback. But, man, was there regret over that start.

“I love the way we fought back in,” said Edmondson, who scored a team-high 20 points in his final game – he’ll play next year at nearby Metro State in downtown Denver. “We definitely put ourselves in a spot to win that game.

“But if we could take that first half back, I would. We didn’t show up the way we should have and it put us in a deep hole early. In an Elite 8 game, everyone can play. We can’t put ourselves in holes like that against teams like that.”

Windsor (22-4) shot 73.1% in the first half, building an early lead that swelled to 33-11. The Wizards leaned on a scouting report that indicated the Rangers defenders would not leave the shooters to help on the drive.

So they attacked the rim every chance they could.

“They were not going to dive in and help,” said Windsor’s Madden Smiley, who scored 31 points on 11-of-19 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds. “We knew that going in. We all knew that.”

There was not a particular moment that prompted the turnaround. Edmondson said a few defensive stops led to baskets and eventually allowed for rhythm on both sides.

“I think it was the collective piece,” coach Bill Benton said. “I thought early on the nerves of, ‘I have to go make a play.’ Everything was magnified. After halftime ‘we’ just came out and said we are going to do this.”

It was almost enough. Lewis-Palmer (19-7) used a 9-4 run at the end of the first half to pull within 14.

After a 7-3 run to open the third quarter the deficit was 10, where it hovered until the last run in the fourth quarter that saw the Rangers come within 67-64 in the final two minutes.

“When you give a team a 16-minute head start its very hard to battle back through that,” Benton said.

“It takes everything you have just to get to there.

“I think we saw that a little bit tonight.”

Jonas Miller added 12 points for the Rangers, while Dramarion Jelks had 10.

Bill Benton was promoted to head coach after assisting Lewis-Palmer’s state championship team in 2013. In the 11 years that have followed his Rangers teams have won at least one playoff game each season.

Season              W-L       Season ended

2023-24             19-7      Great Eight

2022-23             17-8      Sweet 16

2021-23             27-1      State champions

2020-21             12-3      Great Eight

2019-20             15-10    Sweet 16

2018-19             28-0      State champions

2017-18             25-3      State runner-up

2016-17             23-5      State runner-up

2015-16             24-2      Great Eight

2014-15             19-8      Final Four

2013-14             13-12    Second round

Lewis-Palmer’s Cohen Edmondson manages to deliver a pass while engulfed by Windsor defenders on Friday.

Photos by BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE

Lewis-Palmer guard Damarion Jelks drives past a Windsor defender Friday afternoon. Sixth-seeded Lewis-Palmer fell to No. 3 Windsor 74-68 in the 5A quarterfinal game at Denver Coliseum (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)

Lewis-Palmer’s Jonas Miller tries to make a play near the basket Friday.

Lewis-Palmer’s Noah Johnson takes a contested shot at the rim Friday. Sixth-seeded Lewis-Palmer fell to No. 3 Windsor 74-68 in the 5A quarterfinal game at Denver Coliseum (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)

Lewis-Palmer’s Noah Johnson takes a shot Friday. Sixth-seeded Lewis-Palmer fell to No. 3 Windsor 74-68 in the 5A quarterfinal game at Denver Coliseum (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)

Lewis-Palmer’s Cohen Edmondson works on the interior Friday. Sixth-seeded Lewis-Palmer fell to No. 3 Windsor 74-68 in the 5A quarterfinal game at Denver Coliseum (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)

Lewis-Palmer coach Bill Benton discusses a play with an official on Friday. Benton’s sixth-seeded Rangers fell to No. 3 Windsor 74-68 in the 5A quarterfinal game at Denver Coliseum (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)