Doherty coach Dan McKiernan has been at it a long time, and knows what it takes to be a champion, having won it all at Palmer in 1993.
McKiernan returns to the Final Four for the first time since 2002, and with a team that could make him a champion again.
His Doherty Spartans withstood an outstanding night from Monarch guard Brooks Bajcar, who hit eight 3-pointers en route to 28 points, to advance 73-66 in the final game of the Ray Ball Region.
“That’s the way (Bajcar) always plays, I watched three films on him, he’s just a great player,” McKiernan said of the Coyotes guard who nearly stole the show. “And they are really well-coached, (Monarch coach Ken Niven) just does a great job with those kids.”
Doherty (24-2), the preseason No. 1 by The Denver Post, will meet East on Thursday night at the Coors Events Center. The Spartans beat East 81-66 in the first game of the season.
Both teams came out shooting lights out, with Monarch finding the hot hand of Bajcar, while the Spartans used their significant size advantage with 6-foot-9 Garrett Fiddler and V.J. Holmes.
“Teams win in the playoffs with guys making plays,” Niven said. “And there were a heck of a lot guys out there making plays.”
A back-and-forth game throughout, Doherty finally got some separation with just more than a minute to go. Fiery guard Bryse Velasquez helped put the Spartans up for good with a drive and pass to Holmes for an easy layup.
“I didn’t expect them to stay with us that long,” said Velasquez, who lead the Spartans with 21 points and five assists. “But they came to play.”
Velasquez would salt the game away at the free-throw line after Coyotes guard Sabatino Chen missed a chance to get Monarch back within two with less than 30 seconds left.
“We played as perfect as we possibly could have,” Niven said. “We just needed to make a few more plays.”
Monarch’s guards, who were instrumental in the Sweet 16 against Arapahoe on Thursday, were just as good Saturday. Chen added 15 points and six rebounds to supplement Bajcar’s effort.
Doherty also got 17 points from Holmes, 15 from guard James Webb and 10 from Fiddler.
Monarch 23 16 14 13 – 66
Doherty 19 18 16 20 – 73
Monarch – Chen 5 5-9 15, Bajcar 9 2-2 28, Kawoluk 0 0-0 0, Cashdollar 2 0-0 4, Magiera 5 4-4 15, Pendleton 0 0-0 0, Stepsnik 0 0-0 0, Allen 2 0-0 4. Totals 23 11-15 66.
Doherty – Velasquez 5 8-8 21, Webb 6 1-3 15, Holmes 8 1-2 17, Fiddler 4 2-4 10, Moritz 4 0-0 9, Lucero 0 0-0 0, Davis 0 1-2 1, Carlston 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 13-19 73.
3-pt. goals – Bajcar 8, Magiera; Velasquez 3, Webb 2, Moritz. Total fouls – Monarch 19, Doherty 17. Fouled out – Bajcar. Technicals – None.
