BOULDER — Will Cobb is slight, has rosy cheeks, looks like he would be good in science and perhaps the last selection in a gym class pickup game. But don’t be fooled — his motor is considerable, and ice apparently flows through his veins.
In his final high school appearance Saturday night, the guard made three of four key free throws in overtime to help Regis stave off George Washington 67-63 for the Class 5A championship in front of another record crowd at the Coors Events Center.
It was the school’s first boys basketball title and came a day after its newer girls division won its first title and made the Raiders the first school to own both titles since ThunderRidge in 2003.
The free throws were Cobb’s only points — he averaged six per game — and he will probably never score any that will be bigger.
“I worked on my shot all week with Coach (Ken) Shaw so that I would be ready to hit them,” Cobb said.
Cobb, a starter, plays with the likes of R.J. Demps, Joey Ptasinski and Bud Thomas, so he has no problem with his role of defending, moving the ball or doing whatever the Raiders need.
“I play with a lot of great players, so I get my shots when I can,” Cobb said.
In capping the season in front of a four-day total of 33,864 fans (9,350 on Saturday), as well as three of the final four games finishing in overtime, Regis (26-2) won a tight one against the Patriots (26-2) through late ball protection and free-throw shooting.
As is the case through the years with most of Shaw’s teams, which have won 558 games and three championships — he has taken a total of four schools to finals — superior ballhandling and perimeter shooting were defining facts as well as this particular Raiders team growing up late. Their Great 8 victory over two-time defending champion East was a benchmark as was Thomas’ 40-foot heave two days ago that made “SportsCenter” and saved the final four victory over ThunderRidge.
“I can tell you that nobody worked harder this season,” a proud yet reserved Shaw said afterward.
Once again, Demps (22 points), Ptasinski (17) and Thomas (15) paced the Raiders, who led by as many as nine points late in the third quarter. Thomas fouled out late, but Regis picked up the slack. However, the Pats traded leads with the Raiders, came back when needed during multiple stretches and got 25 points and 12 rebounds from Thomas Bropleh.
GW had its chances down the stretch and into overtime, but missed shots, turnovers and Regis’ ability to convert free throws kept the Patriots from their sixth championship.
“It comes down to defense. If you don’t play defense, you don’t win,” Bropleh said. “We played our hearts out and left everything on the court, but came up short.”
Millard added 18 points for GW. Novian Balous scored 12.
But Regis had a first time times two this weekend.
Said Cobb: “It’s pretty sweet.”
George Washington 11 13 17 11 11 — 63
Regis 10 17 20 5 15 — 67
George Washington — Millard 6 3-3 18, Adams 1 0-0 2, Sather 0 0-0 0, Bropleh 11 1-3 25, Balous 5 2-4 12, Santisteven 0 0-0 0, Ford 0 0-0 0, De. Johnson 0 0-0 0, Du. Johnson 3 0-0 6, Marshall 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 6-10 63.
Regis — Ptasinski 7 0-1 17, Cobb 0 3-4 3, Demps 5 12-16 22, Thomas 5 4-5 15, Dyer 2 1-2 6, Williams 0 0-0 0, Clark 0 0-0 0, Winters 2 0-0 4. Totals 21 20-28 67.
3-point goals — Millard 3, Bropleh 2; Ptasin- ski 3, Dyer, Thomas. Total fouls — George Washington 22, Regis 12. Fouled out — Thomas. Technicals — None.
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
5A boys all-tournament team
David Arnold, ThunderRidge, Sr.
Novian Balous, George Washington, Sr.
Thomas Bropleh, George Washington, Sr.
R.J. Demps, Regis, Sr.
Bud Thomas, Regis, Jr.
MVP: Bud Thomas
