PEYTON — It was his final regular-season home game in a gymnasium he helped open four years ago, and it brought tears to his father’s eyes.
Still, Brett Green has more work to do.
“That part of it is over. This year has gone by fast, real fast, but we’re not done yet,” he said.
Green’s 23 points Tuesday helped Peyton roll The Classical Academy 64-43 to complete the Tri-Peaks West Division title in Class 3A.
It was the 16th consecutive victory for the Panthers, ranked No. 2 in The Denver Post/9News 3A poll behind defending state champion Faith Christian. They began the season by losing consecutive games to 4A opponents Pueblo South, top-ranked in the class, and Jefferson County’s Golden by a combined six points.
Peyton (16-2) also ran the division table (12-0), so color the Panthers ready to begin district play as a top seed.
“We’re a good team, no one can beat us if we play our game,” Green said.
Peyton began slowly against The Classical Academy (4-14, 2-10), leading only 10-8 after a quarter. The Panthers bumped it to 25-17 at halftime, then took over in the third quarter. A 16-4 run decided it as the Panthers had three players dunk and limited the Titans to one shot.
“I feel pretty good about the game,” said Panthers coach Brian Green, Brett’s father. “Our defense is usually twice as good as it was tonight, but the kids have good swagger and confidence.”
Green, 3A’s leading scorer (24.5 points), led three teammates in double figures: Bryant Thomas (15), Chris Spurling (13) and Chandler Bartlett (10).
The Panthers, who lost a year ago to Yuma in the regional final, and the younger Green can’t wait to begin the postseason.
“This is the best time of my life,” he said.
The Classical Academy 8 9 6 20 — 43
Peyton 10 15 20 19 — 64
The Classical Academy — G. Holmes 2 0-0 4, Queens 2 0-0 4, Obenauf 3 0-0 7, Coughlin 4 0-0 8, McIntyre 4 4-4 12, Crane 3 0-0 6, W. Holmes 0 0-2 0, Carr 1 0-0 2, Plant 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 4-6 43.
Peyton — Green 8 7-8 23, Bartlett 5 0-2 10, Thomas 7 0-0 15, Spurling 6 1-1 13, K. Klopfenstein 0 0-0 0, Browning 1 0-0 2, Van Tassel 0 1-2 1, Sutton 0 0-0 0, Watkins 0 0-0 0, Greene 0 0-0 0, Barrett 0 0-0 0, J. Klopfenstein 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 9-14 64.
3-point goals — Obenauf; Green 2, Thomas 1. Total fouls — The Classical Academy 17, Peyton 9. Fouled out — None. Technicals — None.
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
