Team Cooper Tires Storms to Championship of PBR’s Groundbreaking Team Tournament
By: Easton Colvin
CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY RECAP
Leme and Whitehorse Power Team Cooper Tires on Undefeated March to Monster Energy Team Challenge Championship
Team Cooper Tires: 177.25 points
Team Pendleton Whisky: 0 points
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The world’s No. 1 bull rider, Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil), powered his team to the first multi-event team championship in PBR history with key support from a surging Keyshawn Whitehorse (McCraken Springs, Utah). In addition to Leme and Whitehorse, the bulls also starred in the Championship Sunday finale of PBR’s new team tournament, the Monster Energy Team Challenge, live on CBS with fans welcomed back into the arena. The bulls dominated the matchup, producing five scores over 45 points in the first half, and seven during the game.
Team Cooper Tires Captain Jose Vitor Leme got the scoring going, taking care of business aboard Sitting Bull (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Diamond Willow) for 88.75 points to end the first half.
Opening the second half for Cooper Tires, 2018 PBR Rookie of the Year Keyshawn Whitehorse bested Stretch (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Heald Pro Bulls) for 88.5 points to finish the scoring for the Championship Game.
Though Leme was bucked off Low Dog (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Ken Barnhard) on his team’s final out with the championship already wrapped up for Team Cooper Tires, his 11-for-16 (68.75%) performance through the team tournament locked up the Built Ford Tough MVP award and the $10,000 payday.
“Leme just refuses to give up,” said PBR on CBS color analyst and two-time PBR World Champion Justin McBride. “He’s a good athlete and an even better competitor.”
Leme wasn’t a one-man team, as Whitehorse, who surged during the playoffs, going 3-for-4, finished fifth in the MVP race. Overall, Whitehorse went 6-for-9 throughout the tournament.
Marco Eguchi (Poa, Brazil) and Team Pendleton Whisky faced off against the likes of Chiseled (Flinn/D&H Cattle Co) who was marked a tournament-high 47 points, 2019 YETI World Champion Bull Smooth Operator (Dakota Rodeo/Julie Rosen/Clay Struve/Chad Berger) and Milk Man (TNT Bucking Bulls/Hart Cattle Co.), who were each marked 45.75 points.
Team Pendleton Whisky was shut out for the first time in the team tournament, and finished the challenge 6-2.
Team Cooper Tires’ dominant run, which included entering the championship game with the most points per game (268.6) and rides per game (3.1), resulted in an 8-0 record and the first Monster Energy Team Challenge Championship.
“This team was incredible start to finish,” said Team Cooper Tires’ Sage Kimzey. “We all bought in and gave 110%. We all had someone to fall back on if we ever slipped.”
“This feels amazing in front of these great fans,” said Keyshawn Whitehorse of Team Cooper Tires. “It doesn’t get much better than this.”
“I’m so happy and we’re so blessed to win,” said Built Ford Tough MVP Jose Vitor Leme. “I have to thank these guys with me, and the fans that were here this weekend. Thank you all.”
SCORE RECAPS – CHALLENGE DAYS 1-13
CHALLENGE DAY 1: New PBR Team Tournament Launches with a Blowout, Shutout and Dramatic Seesaw Battle at South Point Arena in Las Vegas
Team Cooper Tires (1-0) Defeats Team Can-Am (0-1) │ 336.25-87
Team Las Vegas (1-0) Defeats Team YETI (0-1) │ 88.25-0
Team Union Home Mortgage (1-0) Defeats Team Wrangler (0-1) │ 337-257.25
CHALLENGE DAY 2: Powerhouse Shutouts, Gritty Rides and High Adrenaline Action Headline Challenge Day 2
Team Can-Am (1-1) Defeats Team Wrangler (0-2) │ 347.25-0
Team Las Vegas (2-0) Defeats Team Union Home Mortgage (1-1) │ 257-85.25-
Team Cooper Tires (2-0) Defeats Team YETI (0-2) │ 332-0
CHALLENGE DAY 3: Team Cooper Tires Builds Sizeable Lead with Third Consecutive Win to Conclude First Weekend of New PBR Team Challenge
Team Las Vegas (3-0) Defeats Team Wrangler (0-3) │ 175.75-0
Team YETI (1-2) Defeats Team Can-Am (1-2) │ 173-86.5
Team Cooper Tires (3-0) Defeats Team Union Home Mortgage (1-2) │ 175.75-88.5
CHALLENGE DAY 4: Unstoppable Team Cooper Tires and Resurgent Team Wrangler Headline Explosive Action from Challenge Day 4 of New PBR Team Challenge
Team Can-Am (2-2) Defeats Team Union Home Mortgage (1-3) │ 173.25-0
Team Wrangler (1-3) Defeats Team YETI (1-3) │ 259.5-254.25
Team Cooper Tires (4-0) Defeats Team Las Vegas (3-1) │ 259.25-84.5
CHALLENGE DAY 5: Dramatic Finishes on Challenge Day 5 of PBR Team Challenge Architect Must-Win Game for Final Division A Championship Berth
Team Cooper Tires (5-0) Defeats Team Wrangler (1-4) │ 173-170.25
Team Las Vegas (4-1) Defeats Team Can-Am (2-3) │ 175.25-89.25
Team Union Home Mortgage (2-3) Defeats Team YETI (1-4) │ 88-87.5
CHALLENGE DAY 6: Mauricio Moreira Converts Under Pressure in Game’s Final Out to Propel Team Can-Am to PBR Team Challenge Playoffs in Sioux Falls
Team Wrangler (2-4-0) Defeats Team Yeti (1-5-0) | 176.25-88.25
Team Cooper Tires (6-0-0) Defeats Team Las Vegas (4-2-0) | 259-0
Team Can-Am (3-3-0) Defeats Team Union Home Mortgage (2-4-0) | 173.5-172.75
CHALLENGE DAY 7: Pendleton Whisky Earns Walk-Off Win, Swearingen Proves Clutch, Davis Beats Dirteater as Division B Opens Action
Team Pendleton Whisky (1-0) Defeats Team South Point (0-1) | 166.5-158
Team Boot Barn (1-0) Defeats Team Cat (0-1) | 169-83.75
Team Ariat (1-0) Defeats Team Lucas Oil (0-1) | 86.5-83
CHALLENGE DAY 8: Pendleton Whisky Takes Over First Place, Ariat Stays Undefeated while South Point and Lucas Oil Duel Into the Night
Team Pendleton Whisky (2-0) Defeats Team Boot Barn (1-1) | 161.25-86
Team Ariat (2-0) Defeats Team Cat (0-2) | 160.75-79.25
Team South Point (1-1) Defeats Team Lucas Oil (0-2) | 259.25-171.25
CHALLENGE DAY 9: Team Ariat Hits the 90-Point Mark Twice to Remain Undefeated in PBR Team Challenge
Team Lucas Oil (1-2) Defeats Team Cat (0-3) | 171.25-0
Team South Point (2-1) Defeats Team Boot Barn (1-2) | 172.5-0
Team Ariat (3-0) Defeats Team Pendleton Whisky (2-1) | 266-173.54
CHALLENGE DAY 10: Team Ariat Keeps Rolling, Playoff Race Tightens in Division B at Monster Energy Team Challenge
Team Pendleton Whisky (3-1) Defeats Team Cat (0-4) | 411.75-88.25
Team Boot Barn (2-2) Defeats Team Lucas Oil (1-3) | 254.5-167.75
Team Ariat (4-0) Defeats Team South Point (2-2) | 258.5-0
CHALLENGE DAY 11: Team Pendleton Whisky Clinches Playoff Berth, Two Teams Tie on Monster Energy Team Challenge Day 11
Team Ariat (4-0-1) Ties Team Boot Barn (2-2-1) |86.75-86.75
Team South Point (3-2) Defeats Team Cat (0-5) | 88.75
Team Pendleton Whisky (4-1) Defeats Team Lucas Oil (1-4) | 88-86.5
CHALLENGE DAY 12: Playoff Picture Painted as Division B Wraps Up Actions at Monster Energy Team Challenge
Team Lucas Oil (1-4-1) Ties Team Cat (0-5-1) | 0-0
Team Boot Barn (3-2-1) Defeats Team South Point (3-3-0) | 152-0
Team Pendleton Whisky (5-1-0) Defeats Team Ariat (4-1-1) | 258.75-88.5
PLAYOFF NIGHT ONE: Powerhouses to Faceoff on Playoff Night Two as Teams Ariat and Las Vegas Move On From Wildcard Friday
Team Las Vegas (4-2-1) Ties Team Boot Barn (3-2-2) | 0-0
Team Ariat (5-1-1) Defeats Team Can-Am (3-4) | 172.75-88.25
Team Can-Am (3-4-1) Ties Team Boot Barn (3-2-3) | 0-0
PLAYOFF NIGHT TWO: Championship Matchup Set as Team Pendleton Whisky Prepares to Square Up with Team Cooper Tires on CBS Sports
Team Cooper Tires (7-0) Defeats Team Ariat (5-2-1) | 344.75-89
Team Pendleton Whisky (6-1) Defeats Team Las Vegas (4-3-1) | 174.75-89.5
Team Ariat (5-2-2) Ties Team Las Vegas (4-3-2) | 0-0
YETI “BUILT FOR THE WILD” BULL OF THE WEEKEND STANDINGS
Here are the Top bull 5 scores recorded on during the Championship Weekend of the 2020 PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol:
1. Chiseled (Flinn/D&H Cattle Co) – 47 points (Championship Sunday, Boudreaux Campbell, 5.6 seconds)
T2. Smooth Operator (Dakota Rodeo/Julie Rosen/Clay Struve/Chad Berger) – 45.75 points (Championship Sunday, Marco Eguchi, 3.93 seconds)’
T2. Milk Man (TNT Bucking Bulls/Hart Cattle Co.) – 45.75 points (Championship Sunday, Amadeu Campos Silva, 4.99 seconds)
4. Smooth Over (Hart Cattle/GT Bucking Bulls) – 45.5 points (Championship Sunday, Marco Eguchi, 1.53 seconds)
5. Zero Time (Paradigm Bull Company) – 45.25 points (Playoff Night Two, Ky Hamilyton, 1.62 seconds)
BUILT FORD TOUGH MVP STANDINGS
Here are the final standings for the Built Ford Tough MVP race for the 2020 PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol:
1. Jose Vitor Leme, 11-for-16, 954.75 points
2. Cooper Davis, 7-for-17, 603.5 points
3. Mauricio Moreira, 6-for-14, 519.5 points
4. Marco Eguchi, 6-for-14, 519.25 points
5. Keyshawn Whitehorse, 6-for-9, 501.75 points
6. Daylon Swearingen, 5-for-15, 479 points
7. Roscoe Jarboe, 5-for-12, 434.75 points
8. Ky Hamilton, 5-for-17, 431 points
9. Lucas Divino, 5-for-15, 417 points
10. Shane Proctor, 4-for-10, 349.25 points
11. Derek Kolbaba, 4-for-12, 347.5 points
12. Colten Jesse, 4-for-12, 347 points
13. Sage Kimzey, 4-for-15, 340.75 points
14. Ryan Dirteater, 4-for-9, 335.5 points
15. Stetson Wright, 3-for-16, 261.75 points
16. Mason Taylor, 3-for-9, 260 points
Stetson Lawrence, 3-for-11, 260 points
Chase Dougherty, 3-for-12, 260 points
19. Luciano de Castro, 3-for-11, 258 points
20. Andrew Alvidrez, 3-for-7, 256.75
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