Denver Christian had incentive amid irony and familiarity Saturday night.
The Crusaders were meeting former longtime Metropolitan League rival Lutheran. The thing is, there was a Lutheran in Denver and a Lutheran in Parker a year ago. Now, the two schools, which also decided the 2011 Class 2A title, have combined to reside in Parker.
And Lutheran-Parker eliminated Denver Christian in the past season’s playoffs.
So don’t be surprised that the Crusaders, top-ranked in The Denver Post 2A coaches poll, turned in a rousing performance on the way to a 78-51 victory at home over the No. 2 Lions (now just referred to as Lutheran) in nonleague.
“It was there for us,” senior Austin LeFebre said of his team’s motivation.
LeFebre saw to it personally with a game-high 28 points and nine rebounds.
“I was just trying to crash the boards, help the team,” he said.
And he had plenty of help. Alex Terpstra (19 points) and Connor Kroshus (18) aided in scoring, but virtually every Crusader who saw the floor contributed significantly in ball movement, defense, shot-blocking, rebounding and getting up and down the floor.
“That’s the way I would have dreamt it,” Denver Christian coach Dick Katte said after his team moved to 4-0. “It couldn’t have been any better.”
The Crusaders used their size advantage as well as superiority in quickness and speed to run to an assortment of early leads. They opened with a 25-point quarter — making 7-of-10 shots — woke up from a lull to start the second before racing to a 40-point half and withstood any Lions (2-3) move.
They also weathered Lutheran’s Jonny Foote, who scored his team’s first 11 points before settling for 21.
Said Katte: “That’s as good as we can have it.”
Lutheran 15 10 16 10 — 51
Denver Christian 25 15 20 18 — 78
Lutheran — Willis 1 0-0 2, Milberger 2 1-2 6, Clausen 3 3-4 9, Foote 7 5-6 21, Rasmussen 2 0-0 4, Murphy 0 0-1 0, Raper 1 0-0 3, Bruxvoort 0 0-0 0, Schlager 2 0-0 6, Parkinson 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 9-13 51.
Denver Christian — Terpstra 6 4-5 19, Kroshus 7 1-1 18, Prangar 2 0-0 4, Herren 0 0-0 0, LeFebre 11 6-9 28, Hofer 2 0-0 6, Hart 1 1-1 3, Kastens 0 0-0 0, Carter 0 0-0 0, Parker 0 0-0 0. Totals 32 11-22 85.
3-point goals — Foote 2, Schlager 2, Milberger, Raper; Terpstra 3, Kroshus 3, Hogfer.
