BOULDER — Satisfaction gave way to hunger no more than two weeks after Regis Jesuit celebrated its first state title last March. Sounds of basketballs filled the school gym as players gathered again for open gym sessions, intent on beginning the journey again.
Because, if one state title was nice, how cool would two be?
“We weren’t really satisfied with one, to be honest with you,” senior Bud Thomas said. “We knew coming back we were going to have a lot of returning starters and a lot of returning players, so that’s what we wanted to do. We wanted to leave no doubt in the state who is the best team.”
And it has led to tonight.
If 44 consecutive in-state victories aren’t convincing enough, if a state tournament during which Regis Jesuit has won by an average of 25 points and averaged a tournament-best 77.2 points isn’t convincing enough, a second consecutive state title would do the trick.
It would put the Raiders in an elite company of schools that have won consecutive state titles, most recently by Denver East in 2007 and 2008.
If the tournament has looked like a cakewalk, it is only because the Raiders have learned their lessons well in a season that has been as challenging as it has rewarding.
“It has been difficult,” Regis Jesuit coach Ken Shaw said. “We’d scout a team, and then when they played us, they weren’t the same team that we scouted. Other teams brought their best against us, and I think that helped bring out the best in us during the season. We had to amp it up a little bit.
“Our first 12 games were on the road. I think that helped toughen us up a little bit. We played a strong schedule. We challenged our guys all throughout the season. In support of our guys I thought they came to work every day.”
The state title game matches Regis Jesuit against Fairview, which is back in the final four for a second straight season.
The Knights were disappointed as a favorite last season, when they were upset by George Washington in the semifinals, but are back to claim what they feel should have been theirs a season ago.
But if senior guard Darragh O’Neill can’t go — he suffered an ankle sprain during Fairview’s win Thursday over Aurora Central — tonight’s task gets exponentially harder.
In the three tournament games before Thursday, O’Neill averaged 27 points per game. Fairview got a stellar semifinal performance from forward Michael Melillo with 22 points and may need him to step up similarly tonight.
Regis Jesuit and Fairview are familiar foes. They faced each other in December in Fairview’s invitational tournament, a game which Regis Jesuit won 55-47 without starter Joey Ptasinski and top reserve Tanner Samson.
A repeat of that win means a repeat title for a team whose mission from Day One was to be right where it is.
“I don’t even know if I could explain it,” said Thomas, asked what a second title would mean to him. “It’s everything we’ve worked for coming off of last year’s tournament. We didn’t come here to get in the finals. We came here to win it.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
5A: Fairview vs. Regis Jesuit, 8 p.m.
Who: Fairview Knights (22-5) vs. Regis Jesuit Raiders (26-1).
Coaches: Frank Lee, Fairview, 13th season; Ken Shaw, Regis, 35th season, third with Raiders.
Key players: Fairview — Darragh O’Neill, Sr., 6-feet-2, 23.6 points; Michael Melillo, Sr., 6-5, 14.4; Shane O’Neill, So., 6-1, 7.9; Regis Jesuit — Bud Thomas, Sr., 6-6, 20.3; Joey Ptasinski, Sr., 6-3, 17.3; Drew Dyer, Jr., 6-5, 10.4.
Championship appearances (since 2004 format change): Fairview, first; Regis, second.
Outlook: Regis Jesuit is the defending champion. Fairview is making its first title-game showing since winning it all in 1981, its only title. Regis’ lone title came a year ago. . . . Darragh O’Neill suffered a sprained ankle before halftime of the final four win over Aurora Central and did not return. It’s uncertain whether he’ll be able to play. . . . Fifteen of Melillo’s game-high 22 points in the semifinals came in the fourth quarter, including 8-of-8 free throws. The Raiders’ only loss this season was to Loyola, Md., in an out-of- state tourney. They’ve won 44 in a row vs. Colorado foes.
