CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE — How could any unbeaten team riding two consecutive state championships enter a game with an agenda of unfinished business?
For the top-ranked Faith Christian boys basketball team, Saturday’s Class 3A Metro League matchup with Kent Denver provided an opportunity for the Eagles to avenge their lone defeat last season.
Patient and precise, the Eagles achieved their mission with a 55-41 victory over the No. 10 Sun Devils at Black Field House.
“There wasn’t so much extra emphasis on them as a team as much as it was that they play a 1-3-1 zone, and that’s what killed us last year,” Faith Christian guard Joel Hegarty said. “Being able to score against a zone has really made us a complete team, because everyone knows we can score against man-to-man (defense).”
Faith Christian (11-0, 5-0) moved to 89-3 over the past four seasons and never was in trouble Saturday after darting to an early lead.
While it wasn’t a glitzy win — Hegarty’s 12 points and Micah Twedell’s 11 led the way — the Eagles avenged a 58-53 loss to the Sun Devils (9-3, 5-1) on Feb. 27 of last year.
“I think that game, mixed with this being one of the biggest games for them in the Metro League and also the football championship, created some tension between us,” said Matt Brittan, who led Kent Denver with 14 points. “They came out and got the better of us and won with class.”
Kent Denver chiseled the Eagles’ lead to four on a 3-pointer by Dylan Finer just before halftime, but Faith Christian’s Nate Chapman countered with a trey of his own to make it 25-18 at the break. The Eagles then blitzed Kent Denver in the third quarter and cruised from there.
“Lucky for us, we have a lot of guys on our team who can hit open looks if they get them,” Twedell said. “And we’re always emphasizing defense. We wanted to come in and not let them score, which is kind of obvious, but we always push to get in their face.”
Kent Denver never was in sync offensively against the Eagles, and the struggles transferred to the free- throw line, where the Sun Devils missed 11 of their 19 attempts.
“Their defense is great,” Brittan said. “They know how to pressure the ball, and they were obviously prepared for this game.”
Faith Christian 13 12 16 14 — 55
Kent Denver 8 10 9 14 — 41
Faith Christian — Hegarty 4 3-4 12, D. Rindels 3 0-0 6, Twedell 5 0-0 11, Brekke 2 1-2 5, Loudenslager 3 0-0 6, N. Rindels 1 1-2 3, Chapman 1 0-0 3, Colson 1 0-0 2, Smith 0 1-2 1, McCartney 0 6-6 6, Marshall 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 12-16 55.
Kent Denver — Brittan 5 2-3 14, Smith 0 0-2 0, Finer 3 1-2 9, Blackwell 3 1-2 7, Lantz 1 1-4 3, Tellis 0 1-2 1, Yates 0 0-0 0, Gantz 0 1-2 1, Tills 1 0-0 3, Barker 1 0-0 2, Jackson 0 1-2 1, Motz 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 8-19 41.
3-point goals — F, Hegarty, Twedell, Chapman; K, Brittan 2, Finer 2, Tills. Total fouls — Faith Christian 15, Kent Denver 14. Fouled out — Loudenslager.
