Aurora – Arvada West played a few seconds of the first half of its game against Aurora Central with only four players on the basketball court because of a substitution error.
With the way the Trojans manhandled the Wildcats – and every other team they have faced so far in the three-day Lee Rosa Holiday Tournament – Aurora Central could have returned the favor for the entire second half and still walked away with a win.
As it turned out, the Trojans thumped Arvada West 86-44 on Tuesday night, the second day of the eight-team tournament at Aurora Central.
The undefeated Trojans, ranked No. 9 in The Denver Post/9News Class 5A boys preseason poll, play Rocky Mountain in tonight’s final at 7:30.
Asked about the potential of his players, Aurora Central coach Bob Caton let it be known his 8-0 team has priorities and talk about a potential state title run is premature.
“We are playing one game at a time. The only championship we are thinking about is the Lee Rosa championship,” Caton said. “We try to do the same things each time out: play defense, hit the boards and make good decisions with the ball.”
Aurora Central senior Marcus Johnson led everybody with 21 points, Stephen Franklin added 20 and 6-foot-9 Ronald Scarbrough finished with 12 points and six blocked shots. Sean Cunningham also scored in double figures (11).
“We just like to play team ball. We’ve got great guards and great big men. I’m enjoying playing on this team,” Johnson said.
Arvada West (4-3) was stuck trying to hit from outside much of the game. Paul Evans came off the bench and hit three 3-pointers to lead the Wildcats with 12 points.
The Trojans gained an 8-0 lead as Arvada West missed its first six shots. Aurora Central connected on 13-of-17 shots in the first quarter, and its lead was 27-6 after eight minutes.
Arvada West 6 11 13 14 – 44
Aurora Central 27 19 19 21 – 86
Arvada West – Vinnola 2 0-0 4, Thyfault 2 1-1 6, McDougal 1 2-2 5, Marshall 3 5-6 11, Biren 1 0-0 2, Evans 4 1-2 12, Amim 0 1-2 1, Zendejas 0 2-2 2, Ullrich 0 1-2 1. Totals 13 13-17 44.
Aurora Central – M. Johnson 9 0-0 21, Martin 3 3-5 9, Scarbrough 5 2-3 12, Cunningham 5 0-1 11, Franklin 9 1-3 20, Ray 0 2-2 2, Kelly 0 2-2 2, Goyer 0 0-2 0, Veasley 0 0-0 0, D. Johnson 1 0-3 3, O’Connor 3 0-0 6, Schultz 0 0-0 0. Totals 35 10-21 86.
3-point goals – Evans 3, Thyfault, McDougal; M. Johnson 3, Cunningham, Franklin, D. John- son. Total fouls – Arvada West 19; Aurora Central 15. Fouled out – None. Technicals – None.
