Arapahoe played pesky defense Thursday and frustrated top-seeded Ralston Valley and beat the Mustangs 58-54 in overtime at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland.
Fourth-seeded Arapahoe (17-8) will play George Washington on Saturday at the Denver Coliseum, with the winner advancing to the Final Four, which begins Thursday in Boulder.
“It’s just an unbelievable feeling,” Arapahoe senior captain Drew Babb said. “This is just a great win for us.”
In the frenetic final moments of regulation, Ralston Valley rallied from a 52-48 deficit in the final 30 seconds, behind sub Colby Allen’s 3-pointer, a steal and 1-of-2 free throws.
The Mustangs had a shot to win in regulation, but Taylor Gillach’s 3-pointer at the buzzer went in and came back out.
“We got the tip, went down and dribbled it off our foot, and that kind of hurt a little bit,” Ralston Valley coach Mitch Conrad said about the momentum going into overtime.”If we go down and score, who knows what would have happened?”
Ralston Valley (22-3) was led by Sean Murphy’s 15 points and Gillach’s 14. Hornung scored 11 points and had 13 rebounds in his prep finale.
Jon E. Yunt, The Denver Post
ThunderRidge 59, Green Mountain 42
Dave Arnold scored 14 of ThunderRidge’s first 20 points and the Grizzlies (17-8) shut out the Rams in the second quarter, holding them to 0-for-8 shooting, at the World Arena in Colorado Springs.
“(Coach Joe) Ortiz emphasizes defense, so when you play at ThunderRidge you’re going to get good defense,” said Arnold, who had 26 points, six rebounds and one blocked shot. “It’s something we can fall back on.”
Brian Forbes, Special to The Post
Doherty 77, Chatfield 58
Bryse Velasquez scored 16 of his 24 points in the first quarter as the Spartans (22-3) set the tempo with a fast and physical game the Chargers (18-7) could only match in bursts. Doherty used its perimeter speed to punch holes in Chatfield’s defense for easy passes inside or the wings to forward Miles Peterson (20 points), Manuel Sisneros (13) and Dustin Welch (seven).
“They’re great passers. Just amazing. All my points came off their passes, basically,” Peterson said.
Brian Forbes, Special to The Post
Eaglecrest 61, Heritage 51. James Klemm’s 40-footer that barely beat the buzzer for Heritage earned a high-five from Eaglecrest’s Gage Wooten. Klemm and his game-high 21 points just couldn’t earn another game in the season.
Eaglecrest (22-3) surged to a 13-4 start to open the second half and pull away from upset- minded Heritage at Metro State.
“When we’re down we play with more intensity,” Wooten said of the first-half scare when Heritage led until under the two-minute mark of the first half. “Records don’t count in the playoffs.”
Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
Fairview 86, Overland 53
Fairview (25-0) hit its stride in the second quarter and rolled past its former Centennial League foe in the nightcap at the Budweiser Events Center.
“It’s great to be working tonight,” said coach Frank Lee, whose team dropped a double- overtime decision in last year’s Sweet 16. “It’s better than the alternative.”
Jon E. Yunt, The Denver Post
Saturday’s Great 8
At the Denver Coliseum
Fairview (25-0) vs. Doherty (22-3), 2:30 p.m.
Regis (23-2) vs East (21-4), 4:15 p.m.
Eaglecrest (22-3) vs. ThunderRidge (17-8), 6 p.m.
Arapahoe (17-8) vs. George Washington (24-1), 7:45 p.m.
Final Four
At the Coors Events Center
Semifinals: 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Thursday
Finals: 8 p.m. Saturday, March 14
