Denver Christian’s Connor Kroshus had big plans for his junior season, at least until he was sent to the sideline for the first half of the season while struggling to overcome a bout with the H1N1 virus.
Over the past few weeks, Kroshus has worked his way back into the Crusaders’ lineup while gradually getting his game up to speed. If Saturday’s performance against Resurrection Christian is any indication, Kroshus finally can say he is all the way back.
Kroshus came off the bench to score 18 points and spearhead a second-half rally by Denver Christian for a 60-52 victory against Class 2A Mile High League rival Resurrection Christian in a game that featured two of the most decorated prep basketball coaches in Colorado history — Resurrection Christian’s Bruce Dick and DC’s Dick Katte.
Denver Christian (11-1, 7-0), ranked seventh in Class 2A, extended its winning streak to eight games. It was the first loss of the season for No. 10 Resurrection Christian (11-1, 6-1).
With Resurrection’s Wyatt Simon hounding Denver Christian leading scorer Alex Terpstra, the Cougars were able to use a 10-1 run in the second quarter to take a 26-21 lead at the break.
Resurrection extended its lead to 16 points midway through the third quarter before the Crusaders reeled off 13 consecutive points. The Cougars regained an eight-point lead before a 17-0 fourth-quarter run by Denver Christian clinched the win.
Denver Christian was aided by a 23-5 edge in free-throw attempts.
“They hit a couple of big shots down the stretch, and we came up empty on a couple of key possessions,” Dick said. “We got them to the line a lot, and we never got to the line. I’ve never experienced some of the things that we experienced today in my 30 years of coaching.”
Resurrection Christian 13 13 17 9 — 52
Denver Christian 14 7 16 23 — 60
Resurrection Christian — Simon 6 1-3 16, Mondt 4 2-2 11, Flanigan 5 0-0 13, Kohler 1 0-0 2, Wallman 5 0-0 10, Dewald 0 0-0 0, Buxman 0 0-0 0, Buxman 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 3-5 52.
Denver Christian — Herren 1 1-2 3, Terpstra 1 0-0 2, LeFebre 6 1-4 13, Conway 1 6-8 8, Viss 6 4-6 16, Kroshus 7 2-3 18, Pranger 0 0-0 0, Hart 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 14-23 60.
3-pt. goals — Simon 3, Flanigan 3, Mondt; Kroshus 2. Fouls — RC 21, DC 13. Technicals — RC, bench.
