One of the first families in Denver Prep League boys basketball annals got its first head-to-head meeting out of the way Saturday afternoon.
Top-ranked East, coached by veteran Rudy Carey, outlasted Montbello, headed by first-year head coach David Carey, 81-65 to take control of the DPL.
The father-son coaching matchup came late in the 2005-06 season, but was inevitable and may occur again soon.
“Hopefully, we see them in the playoffs,” said David Carey, a guard who played for his father at Manual and East and was selected all-state by The Denver Post in the 1990s. He assisted his father’s team the past several seasons.
Said his father: “It’s good that it’s over, that first time, a big family thing. I’m sure we’ll see them again.”
East, ranked No. 1 in The Denver Post/9News Class 5A poll, improved to 18-3 overall and 7-0 in the DPL. A victory at North on Tuesday will give the Angels at least a share of the league crown. East has won every DPL title but two since Rudy Carey came over from Manual in 1992-93 and five in succession since 2000-01. The Angels will finish against George Washington on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Montbello dropped its first city game in seven tries and slipped to 13-8. It was by far the Warriors’ most important matchup of the season even beyond, said their coach.
“This was our kids’ biggest game of their careers,” David Carey said. “And this is a game that my dad and his team see on a regular basis.”
It showed for the Warriors. After leading early, then trading baskets with the Angels the rest of the first half, their inexperience inevitably surfaced. Montbello missed 17 free throws overall, was outrebounded and a step slow on defense, and had problems protecting the ball.
Even through the Warriors made a game of it down the stretch before folding, they lost it in the third quarter with nine turnovers and 1-of-9 shooting. “They were a little nervous,” David Carey said of his players.
East mixed outstanding and careless play.
“We were sloppy, but we played good in spurts,” Rudy Carey said. “But both teams were so sky-high, so nervous.”
East junior Jordan Martinez-Doublin came off the bench to tie speedy guard Donnell Wells for team scoring honors with 16 points. Sophomore Mookie Gilbert added 14 points and junior guard Blake Swain scored 13.
Zesmond Bryant and Quincy Hairston led the Warriors with 13 points each. Chris Smith added 11 points, all in the fourth quarter.
“We had a chance to get back in the game and we turn the ball over twice,” David Carey said. “Missing 17 free throws, you’re not going to beat anybody.”
East 17 23 23 18 – 81
Montbello 17 17 11 20 – 65
East – Miller 1 5-6 7, Boyd 2 2-4 6, Swain 4 4-5 13, Wells 6 2-5 16, Gilbert 4 5-6 14, Martinez-Doublin 6 2-4 16, De. Thornton 3 1-2 7, Williams 0 0-0 0, Battle 0 2-2 2, Verner 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 23-34 81.
Montbello – McDonald 0 1-2 1, Hairston 4 4-6 13, Porch 2 1-2 6, Bryant 5 3-7 13, Jordan 3 3-4 10, Littlejohn 1 2-8 4, Nelson 2 3-5 7, Smith 5 0-0 11. Totals 22 17-34 65.
3-point goals – Martinez-Doublin 2, Wells 2, Gilbert, Swain; Hairston, Jordan, Porch, Smith. Total fouls – East 23, Montbello 22. Fouled out – Miller; Hairston, McDonald. Technicals – Montbello coach D. Carey.
Neil H. Devlin can be reached at 303-820-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com.
