Class 5A boys basketball, which will settle the 2006-07 season beginning today, is left with a Fantastic Four.
As a group, they have been periodically marveled at and comical in their approach, although each contains readable stories and has required extraordinary efforts to join us in Boulder.
Although they might not have been exposed to cosmic rays during an outer- space science mission, none is here by accident.
Clearly, Doherty has been more than a thing; it’s a rock.
East has further stretched its considerable legacy.
Down the stretch of the season, Mullen has been on fire.
And Aurora Central, which has lost just two games in nearly three seasons, had been invisible from final rounds in nearly a quarter-century.
Who will be superheroes?
Doherty, which began the season top ranked in The Denver Post/9News 5A poll, has been, well, solid. The Spartans have demonstrated the ability to play any style with a roster that includes height, strength, speed, quickness, flair and cohesion.
Having weathered a good Colorado Springs Metro League, Doherty is a matchup problem from opening tipoff, complete and versatile in perimeter shooting, rebounding, defense, getting into transition and to the basket, and deep enough to withstand foul trouble.
“We do what we do, make the adjustments and play hard,” Doherty coach Dan McKiernan said.
It’s that simple for the Spartans – they’re chasing their first boys basketball crown.
Garrett Fiddler is Colorado’s best rebounder and shot-blocker, not to mention its smartest pivot – he’s headed to Yale. Sophomore point guard Bryse Velasquez has been steadier and more explosive in the playoffs. VJ Holmes is about as good a two-way forward as there is in the state. And any other Spartan in the top eight in their rotation is capable of changing games.
East is long with its tradition as well as its firepower and defense. The Angels, who were in the thick of all-around sports excellence in the heyday of the Denver Prep League from the 1940s-60s, were revived in the early 1990s when Rudy Carey returned to his alma mater and re-established contending status.
Having won nearly all city titles since heading the program, Carey and the Angels, with two state championships, a runner-up finish and dozens of playoff victories, are near another.
Their strength lies in senior guard Donell Wells, forwards Blake Swain (senior) and Mookie Gilbert (junior), a defense that can extend from Denver to Boulder, and big athleticism.
The Angels might have drawn some snickers as well as concern when they struggled to put away foes, but they’re dead serious about winning a third title since the 1995-96 season, and they sport underrated polish.
Up and down? Mullen has been on a trampoline since the beginning of practice in November. The Mustangs began minus key talent that was delayed by advancing to a third consecutive football finale; welcomed transfers and move-ins; replaced every starter but one; experimented with lineups and rotations; prepped in another good Centennial League; and never even thought about packing it in.
“They could have quit a long time ago,” coach Porter Cutrell said of a formerly frustrated roster trying to defend its title.
Instead, Devin Aguilar, the most all-around gifted and talented senior this school year – and most valuable player of last season’s tournament – finally got comfortable with his new mates, notably Terrance Dent, formerly of Wyoming and with the long-distance shooting range of a former cowboy; footballer Kyle Theret, stable and a strong defender; and an assortment of inside and wing players who have multitasked what was needed.
A proud Aurora Central, formerly an also-ran within a changing area, wasn’t much as recently as four seasons ago. The Trojans weren’t very visible even when entering the previous two tournaments undefeated; their play in a weaker 5A-4A Skyline League (they switched from the 5A Continental in search of competitiveness across the board in their athletics) was also considered a detriment.
However, two significant talents in Stephen Franklin and Sean Cunningham have ignited a group to rebound, defend and shoot free throws.
Basically, Cunningham runs the show, Franklin creates opportunities and the Trojans fill in around them.
All four have been fantastic.
