There are some things kids just can’t resist: wet paint, hot cookies, a snowball aimed at your head.
East coach Rudy Carey knows another timeless temptation: run-and-gun basketball.
The Angels ran all over Thomas Jefferson on Tuesday, rebuffing the Spartans’ attempt to slow the game down by leaning on their trademark pressure defense that forced 25 turnovers to fuel a 75-60 DPL rout at the Thunderdome.
“Aggressive defense tends to speed things up,” Carey said. “We kind of lure them in because kids want to speed things up.”
And for the Angels, speed killed.
East (13-1, 1-0 DPL), ranked No. 1 in The Denver Post/9News Class 5A poll, had four of its starters score in double figures and used a 6-0 run at the start of the third quarter to blow things open against the Spartans, ranked No. 3 in 4A.
The shooting guard tandem of Blake Swain and Donell Wells led all scorers with 19 points apiece. DaVaughn Thornton finished with 11 points and Kenneth Gilbert had 10 points and 12 rebounds, as the Angels pounded the Spartans on the boards.
“That’s my job,” said Gilbert, who also blocked three shots. “That’s what I do.”
East was held in check in the first quarter as TJ refused to run or give up much on the perimeter. The Angels started to break through in the second quarter and led by 12 on Wells’ steal and layup.
Less than a minute into the third, things changed for good.
East forced three straight turnovers and went up 37-22 just 56 seconds into the second half. The Angels were off to the races and extended their lead to 22 on a three-point play by Swain with 17 remaining in the third quarter.
“The start of the third quarter was disgusting,” Spartans coach Grant Laman said. “They made us pay for every mistake we made.”
The Spartans (9-8, 1-1), who dropped to 3-6 this season against 5A teams, missed plenty of chances early to keep East close. TJ missed a handful of gimmes and layups and shot a dismal 8-of-19 from the free-throw line.
Lawon Benford led the two-time defending state champions with 15 points – nine of which came in the first quarter.
East 16 17 24 18 – 75
Thomas Jefferson 13 9 14 24 – 60
East – Verner 0 0-0 0, Swain 8 2-4 19, Wells 6 5-6 19, Da. Thornton 4 3-6 11, Gilbert 4 1-2 10, De. Thornton 0 2-2 2, Hildreth 0 1-2 1, Martinez 3 0-0 6, Russell 0 0-0 0, Brooks 0 0-0 0, Molock 1 0-0 2, Wiese 1 0-0 3, Frazier 1 0-0 2. Totals 28 14-22 75.
Thomas Jefferson – Benford 5 4-10 15, Bellamy 1 0-0 2, Lewis 3 0-0 7, Kane 2 1-2 5, Greer 3 1-2 9, McCullough 2 0-0 5, Workie 0 0-0 0, Bodra 2 0-1 4, Walsh 2 1-2 7, Carter 1 1-2 3, Shaw 1 0-0 3. Totals 22 8-19 60.
3-point goals – Wells 2, Gilbert, Swain, Wiese; Greer 2, Walsh 2, Benford, Lewis, McCullough, Shaw. Total fouls – East 17, Thomas Jefferson 17. Fouled out – None. Technicals – None.
