Class 5A
(2) Boulder vs. (1) Regis Jesuit
8 p.m., Coors Events Center, Boulder
BOULDER PANTHERS (25-2)
Coach: Alan Schulz
Key players: Loren Ban, C, Sr.; Riley Grabau, PG, Sr.; Andre Rieder, G-F, Sr.
REGIS JESUIT RAIDERS (22-5)
Coach: Ken Shaw
Key players: Key players: Michael Clark, G, Sr.; Tanner Samson, F, Jr.; Ryan Winters, F, Sr.
Outlook: The Panthers have won 21 games in a row. … Boulder last took a title in 1979 (AAA), when it beat Regis 51-50, and most recently made a final in 1984, when it lost 50-42 to Montbello. The Panthers were led by Gale Gondrezick. … Has Grabau settled player-of-the-year honors? In his last three playoff outings, he has scored 30, 27 and 30 points, and has clearly been the best all-around player on the floor in the most important rounds. … Schulz, a veteran of multiple sports, may have turned in his best coaching job. … Ban, a definitive presence inside, handles dirty work as if he’s on a cleaning crew. … Regis Jesuit is in its third consecutive final. The Raiders downed George Washington (in 2009) and Fairview (in 2010) in the past two finals, both in overtime. … Shaw, a gentleman, won his 600th game earlier this season. … Senior Drew Dyer is in his third title game in basketball. He also played in the 5A football final in December. The two-way end will play football at Air Force. … The Raiders’ roll is multifaceted — Clark has been steady; Winters, a strongman, has been emerging, as has Samson; and the Raiders are getting mileage out of Colin Smith, freshman Josh Perkins and Chris Lesnansky.
Compiled by Neil H. Devlin, The Denver Post
Class 4A
(3) Sterling vs. (9) Windsor
6 p.m., Coors Events Center, Boulder
STERLING (25-2)
Coach: Mike Holloway
Key players: Xavier Talton, G, Jr.; Bobby Lebsock, F, Sr.; Derek Karg, F, Jr.; Aaron Reyes, G, Sr.
WINDSOR (23-4)
Coach: Dustin Duncan
Key players: Aaron Schmidt, G, Jr.; Connor Ervin, F, Sr.; Curtis Neely, F, Sr.; Alex Baldwin, G, So.
Outlook: Windsor will attempt to break an 87-year title drought against its Tri-Valley League rival. The teams split their two regular-season games, with Windsor posting a last-second, 57-56 win at home Jan. 7 and Sterling getting even with a 67-46 home win Feb. 14. Sterling, with savvy point guard Talton running the attack, features a balanced offense with four players averaging at least 12 points. Windsor should have a size advantage inside with the 6-foot-7 Neely and 6-5 junior Mitch Spykstra, although the Tigers successfully handcuffed 6-9 CU recruit Josh Scott in their double-overtime semifinal win against Lewis-Palmer on Thursday.
