AURORA — They didn’t necessarily demonstrate it throughout their first game since the mandatory layoff over the holidays, but Arapahoe’s Warriors will wake up this morning and find themselves atop The Denver Post/9News Class 5A poll.
Still, these are the types of bumps in the road or less- than-flattering stretches that the Warriors will take.
A 66-33 drubbing of an undermanned Cherokee Trail team opened the Warriors’ defense of the Centennial League title. Arapahoe won its 14th league game in its past 15 tries and bumped its mark to 10-0 overall as it nears the midway point of the 2010-11 regular season.
“It feels good,” said Warriors senior pivot Parker Semin. “We wanted to start off right. We still won by 33 (points). We’ll take it.”
Semin, who scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds, realizes his team’s picture soon will get much bigger. The Centennial is one of the few remaining leagues that incorporates home-and- away matchups. Historically, it has been one of the top leagues for big schools, and the go-round has added to it.
“We have to get better because we know we’ll see everyone twice,” the 6-foot-5 Semin said.
The Warriors quickly grabbed the lead and kept it. They were ahead 13-2 halfway through the first quarter and built it to a double-figure margin after eight minutes.
Their bulge increased to 33-15 by halftime. They made it a 20-point edge early in the third quarter, then 30-plus down the stretch.
Arapahoe had superior ball movement, owned the backboards and put forth enough defense to keep coach Dan Snyder pleased. Never mind that the Warriors misfired a dozen times from the 3-point arc in the second half and took the bait from the Cougars (2-7, 0-1) more than once in turning it into playground style or lunch time at the recreation center.
“I think our kids are very smart, we’re very deep and we have eight seniors,” Snyder said.
“They’re unselfish, and I think they realize what’s at stake here.”
As for coach Shawn Dirden’s Cougars, key losses from a year ago include those who graduated, a few who transferred and others who moved out of state. Cherokee Trail is trying to reload on the fly — and it’s showing.
Arapahoe 22 11 19 14 — 66
Cherokee Trail 10 5 11 7 — 33
Arapahoe — Fromm 4 1-2 11, Semin 6 8-12 20, Ratterman 4 2-3 10, Jessup 2 0-0 6, Johannsen 0 0-0 0, Moore 1 0-0 2, Webb 0 4-4 4, Balli 1 0-0 2, Kocur 0 1-2 1, Jensen 3 4-5 10. Totals 21 20-28 66.
Cherokee Trail — Hatcher 2 4-5 8, Baca 1 0-0 2, Jackson 3 0-0 8, Yon 0 0-0 0, Huff 3 1-3 8, Duresky 1 0-2 3, Bernstein 1 0-1 2, Singelton 1 0-0 2, Hall 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 5-11 33.
3-pt. goals: Arapahoe — Fromm 2, Jessup 2. Cherokee Trail — Jackson 2, Huff, Duresky. Total fouls — Arapahoe 15, Cherokee Trail 22. Technicals — None.
