Parker – Just another Friday night of Colorado’s top-flight schoolboy basketball …
East, top-ranked in The Denver Post/9News Class 5A poll, outlasted No. 5 and host Chaparral 69-67 in nonleague play in front of a boisterous capacity crowd.
There was a lot going on.
Ultimately, East junior guard Donnell Wells outdueled Chaparral’s Nate Rohnert, who is bound for Yale. Wells, injured last season, flicked the ball away from Chaparral’s Jerry Kraus, the Angels recovered the loose ball, Wells cruised downcourt, pulled up and hit the game-winning jump shot with three seconds to play to seal the game, which began after 8:30 p.m.
And last but not least, at approximately 3:30 p.m., East coach Rudy Carey was informed senior forward Eric Miller, a transfer from Eaglecrest in Centennial, had been ruled ineligible by the Colorado High School Activities Association. His change of domicile and status concerning his mother and legal guardian are in question.
Carey said he will have a meeting with CHSAA officials Monday and vowed to bring in the ACLU and/or sue to have Miller reinstated.
So, instead of entering the game 8-2 overall and undefeated in Colorado, East’s victory Friday night could have been its first of the season, with its previous wins forfeited.
“It can only happen to us,” Carey said.
As it was, his Angels constantly fought back against the Wolverines, who were handed their first loss in nine games.
Chaparral led by double figures early, fueled by Rohnert, who led all scorers with 33 points, and Erich Bracht, who scored 15, 13 in the first half.
Leading 41-32 at halftime, it got away from Chaparral, which made only two baskets in the third quarter.
Conversely, Wells scored 15 points himself in less than six minutes as the Angels’ defensive pressure and rebounding bothered the Wolverines.
“I was feeling it and coach told me to keep looking for my shot,” Wells said.
Tied at 55 entering the fourth quarter, East, with contributions from Ben Boyd, Demetrious Thornton, Sam Williams and Jordan Martinez-Doublin, appeared to be in control.
However, the Angels got sloppy when handling the ball and Rohnert, who scored 18 points in the second half, sparked a Chaparral turnaround. Kraus made a 3-pointer from the left side as Chaparral regained the lead, at 65-63, and Rohnert protected it with two free throws.
But Chaparral wouldn’t score again. Boyd scored inside to tie it with 1:21 to play and Chaparral opted to play for a last shot.
“We’ve had a lot going on,” Wells said.
Said Rohnert: “That’s why coach scheduled this game, to get ready for the state playoffs. East is never going to go away with its defensive pressure and rebounding.”
East 17 15 23 14 – 69
Chaparral 19 22 14 12 – 67
East – Williams 3 0-0 8, Swain 1 0-1 2, Wells 13 3-6 31, De. Thornton 2 0-0 4, Gilbert 2 1-2 5, Boyd 4 6-9 14, Martinez-Doublin 2 1-2 5, Ross 0 0-0 0, Duncan 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 11-20 69.
Chaparral – Schraufnagel 4 0-0 8, Rohnert 8 16-18 33, Madsen 1 0-0 2, Kraus 2 2-4 7, Bracht 4 7-8 15, Gann 1 0-0 2, McKnight 0 0-0 0, Bratcher 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 25-30 67.
3-pt. goals – Wells 2, Williams 2; Kraus, Rohnert. Total fouls – East 23, Chaparral 16. Fouled out – Gilbert. Technicals – None.
