ARVADA — With everything on the line — including bragging rights against one of their fiercest rivals, in addition to the top spot in the conference — the Faith Christian Eagles calmly stepped to the line and took care of business.
And the Eagles did it again and again and again.
Backed by a remarkable effort from the free-throw line, Faith Christian claimed the regular-season crown in the Class 3A Metro League with a 70-54 victory Tuesday against Kent Denver.
The top-ranked Eagles (17-1, 8-0) have won 15 consecutive games and will own the top seed when the league tournament begins next Tuesday, regardless of the result of Faith Christian’s regular-season finale Thursday at Manual.
“It’s obviously something you have to work at in tight games, and I really think the key was how we started at the free-throw line,” Faith coach Andrew Hasz said. “We had a lull, but we were able to weather that when we missed a few. We definitely kept making enough that (Kent) wasn’t able to get it to a single-possession game. Our guys work hard at that.”
The Eagles knocked down their first 15 free-throw attempts and finished 34-for-43 overall, getting a 15-for-16 effort from junior guard Nathan Rindels and a 12-for-14 performance off the bench from junior Adam Finnefrock.
Faith did not attempt a field goal during the entire fourth quarter but kept No. 3 Kent at bay by making 23 free throws in the frame.
Faith Christian led by one point at halftime but used runs of 9-1 and 8-0 in the third to take a 15-point edge into the fourth. A Kent rally drew the Sun Devils within nine points, but the Eagles iced the conference crown at the foul line.
“This is just a stepping block,” Rindels said. “We do a lot of free throws in practice, but when you shoot that many, you just kind of get in a rhythm.”
Kent Denver 13 8 11 22 — 54
Faith Christian 11 11 25 23 — 70
Kent Denver — Tellis 4 2-5 11, Smith 3 7-8 13, Finer 3 11-16 18, Tills 1 0-0 2, Lantz 0 2-2 2, Motz 0 0-0 0, Yates 0 2-2 2, Gantz 1 1-2 3, Addy 0 0-0 0, Pettyjohn 1 0-0 3. Totals 13 25-35 54.
Faith Christian — Colson 6 5-7 17, Rindels 4 15-16 24, Chapman 3 0-4 7, Buchmann 1 0-0 2, McCartney 2 2-2 6, Finnefrock 0 12-14 12, McCain 1 0-0 2, Hasz 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 34-43 70.
3-point goals — Tellis, Finer, Pettyjohn; Rindels, Chapman. Total fouls — Kent Denver 28; Faith Christian 23. Fouled out — Smith, Tills, Finer; Colson.
