Down the stretch Wednesday night at Bishop Machebeuf, Jared Smith told Kent Denver coach Todd Schayes that he wanted the ball.
The skilled 6-foot-4 senior got it and delivered as if he were UPS — he made 5-of-6 free throws in the final 1 minute, 13 seconds, and the Sun Devils defeated the Buffaloes 71-69 in a key Class 3A Metropolitan League game.
With the victory in a gritty game, Kent Denver, ranked third in The Denver Post/9News 3A poll, improved to 15-2 overall and 6-1 in league play, and within range of the Metro title.
“On the road in this league, I know it’s not George (Washington) and East at the Thunderdome, but we knew (the Buffaloes) weren’t going away,” Schayes said.
It was one the Sun Devils, who will meet league-leading Faith Christian next week, had to have. Smith was fully aware.
“I knew they were going to foul me, so I had to make the free throws,” the guard said. “You have to handle it.”
Smith’s 28 points, including 13-of-16 free throws, plus 22 points from Dylan Finer, kept Kent Denver ahead. The Sun Devils led by as many as 16 points in the fourth quarter, but a resilient and seventh-ranked Bishop Machebeuf (13-4, 4-3) refused to go away.
The Buffs started to make shots. Jack Heher (22 points), Casey Kipp (15) and Antonio Murdock (11) paced an 11-0 run in the final minutes. Bishop Machebeuf got within a point three times but never managed to take the lead.
Ultimately, Kent Denver, paced by Smith, won the free-throw shooting contest.
“He’s the best player in 3A,” Schayes said of Smith.
The Buffs took another hit, but didn’t quit.
“(Kent Denver’s) a good team,” Buffs coach Mike Augustine said. “They’re worthy of everything they have. But our guys are fierce and we could have folded and didn’t.”
Kent Denver 27 11 15 18 — 71
B. Machebeuf 13 19 13 24 — 69
Kent Denver — Finer 6 5-6 22, Yates 0 0-0 0, Arnold 0 0-0 0, Smith 6 13-16 28, Tellis 4 0-3 8, Motz 4 1-2 9, Tills 0 1-2 1, Pettyjohn 0 0-0 0, Addy 0 0-0 0, Soderberg 1 1-1 3. Totals 21 21-30 71.
Bishop Machebeuf — Kipp 4 4-5 15, Heher 7 3-3 22, Murdock 4 3-3 11, Griffin 3 0-3 6, Velarde 2 2-4 6, Garcia 1 0-0 2, Lambert 1 0-0 3, Madrid- Andrews 2 0-0 4, Jones 0 0-0 0, Fitsum 0 0-2 0. Totals 24 12-20 69.
3-pt. goals: Kent Denver — Finer 5, Smith 3. Bishop Machebeuf — Heher 5, Kipp 3, Lambert. Total fouls — Kent Denver 15, 17. Fouled out — Tellis. Technicals — None.
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
