The Class 4A and 5A boys basketball title games are set, with some of our state’s most deserving and top squads.
There was some seeding controversy along the way, but in the end CHSAA has four No. 1 seeds battling it out in Boulder Saturday night.
CLASS 5A
(1) Arapahoe vs. (1) Chaparral, 8 p.m. |
Sitting in the Arapahoe gym just before the Thanksgiving holiday, watching Arapahoe, Chaparral, and Doherty scrimmage one couldn’t help but think, “Boy, Chap and Arap can certainly be playing in Boulder come March.”
After many summer league games and fall scrimmages, it is now time for the boys to play an official game. Who knew it would come at the Coors Event Center for all the marbles?
No surprise in the fact that Chaparral is here with the dynamic duo of Cory Calvert and Josh Adams performing at their best in big games. We covered Josh Adams’ 30-point performance in the Great 8 game vs. Columbine, and Thursday night it was Calvert’s turn to handle offensive duties, scoring 25 points and perfect shooting down the stretch with clutch free throws.
Senior Reece Elliott’s huge three point shots, along with Brandon Malone’s decision-making and penetration, helped Chaparral complete the comeback v.s a Highlands Ranch team that felt firmly in control until Calvert’s amazing half court heave that banked in at the end of the third quarter.
Instead of going into the fourth quarter down by five, Chaparral was only down two, and you could feel the momentum shift in the air. Highlands Ranch still put up a good fourth quarter fight but Chaparral methodically pulled out the win with poise down the stretch.
The Continental League has earned a lot of attention this season for their strong conference but the Centennial League is in no way surprised their league champion Arapahoe is in the title game.
The Warriors completed their third season without a home court loss, 14-0 in league play, and have now won seven-straight games after losing one of their senior stars, Tim Haas, to injury.
In the semis, the Warriors were up by nine at halftime and wouldn’t let up in the second half, outscoring Rangeview 34-18 en route to a 25-point victory. Arapahoe’s six seniors and six juniors provide coach Dan Snyder one of the deepest rosters in the state.
Senior leadership of Jack Bobzien (Hartfordm for lacrosse), Fort Lewis-bound Shane Jensen, and Zach Kocur has helped Arapahoe survive injury while juniors Evan Walsh, Mitch Albyn, and Thomas Trotman’s increased roles deserve mentioning. Athletic and hard working Taven Sparks is the lone junior who has been in the starting lineup from Game 1 for the Warriors.
The explosion and excitement of Chaparral vs. the consistency and steady play of Arapahoe. This will be some chess match for the coaches involved.
Who: Arapahoe Warriors (25-2) vs. Chaparral Wolverines (24-3)
When: 8 p.m. tonight
Coaches: Dan Snyder, Arapahoe; Rob Johnson, Chaparral
Key players: Arapahoe — Zach Kocur, Sr., G; Shane Jensen, Sr., C; Taven Sparks, Jr., F; Evan Walsh, Jr., F; Chaparral — Josh Adams, Sr. G; Cory Calvert, Sr., G; Reese Elliott, Sr., F; Brandon Malone, So., G.
Outlook: Neither program has won a boys basketball state title. … This is the farthest the Wolverines have gotten; Arapahoe last was in a final in 1995, when it was coached by Ron Vlasin, one of the state’s best on record. … The Wolverines have won 20 of 21 games; the Warriors are on an 18-game roll, including 14-0 in the Centennial League. … Since Tim Haas, its leading scorer, went down with a broken bone in a foot three games before the end of the regular season, Arapahoe has picked it up, notably Jensen, who’s averaging 18.7 points, and Kocur (13.2), who has run the show and remained a leader on defense. … Calvert (23.6 points and headed to BYU) and Adams (18.0 and signed with Wyoming) are the state’s top guard duo. They have surpassed 1,000 points between them, and their ballhandling, free-throw shooting and passing, particularly late in games, have been crucial. They also provide firepower and range from the perimeter.
Compiled by Neil H. Devlin
CLASS 4A
(1) Lewis-Palmer vs. (1) Sierra, 6 p.m. |
Lewis-Palmer got over the final four hump after three consecutive losses in an exciting win over Valor Christian in Boulder.
For those who wanted a sneak peek at what big Josh Scott will offer to CU in the future, he left them excited after a 16-point fourth quarter performance. Josh and Jordan Scott’s performances have been well documented over the season, and if you were curious about a third member of support, look no further than junior Justin Smith, who finished this game with 26 points, four 3-pointers, and a eyebrow-raising baseline dunk in the fourth quarter.
Valor basketball proved they are here to stay with a bright hoops future, but Lewis-Palmer now carries a 26-game winning streak into the championship game.
Sierra’s Wesley Gordon, also headed for CU, flirted with a triple-double Thursday night as he scored 19 points, had 15 rebounds and nine blocked shots.
As impressive as Gordon was inside, senior Deon Wilson was almost equally as impressive from the perimeter. His four 3-point shots helped Sierra stretch its lead on a solid Broomfield squad that did not look like themselves against the Stallions’ tempo.
Much of that tempo will be controlled by Wilson’s backcourt partner, senior Jalen Little, who is court savvy and keeps the defense on their toes at all times.
Perhaps most impressive was Sierra’s overall team defense which held Broomfield to 43 points. Broomfield had scored 70 and 74 points in its two previous games.
These two southern powers faced each other one month ago, a 45-42 road victory for Lewis-Palmer.
Josh Scott got the edge in the February matchup but both teams have improved and it will be interesting to see what adjustments are made by these proud coaching staffs the second time around.
I know one coach who should be watching with pride: CU’s Tad Boyle. Great job by the Buffs in not letting this year’s most dominant big men leave the state.
Who: Sierra Stallions (26-1) vs. Lewis-Palmer Rangers (26-1)
When: 6 p.m. tonight
Coaches: Terry Dunn, Sierra; Russ McKinstry, Lewis-Palmer
Key players: Sierra — Calvin Brown, Sr., G; Wesley Gordon, Sr. C; Deon Wilson, Sr., G; Sherron Wilson, So., F. Lewis-Palmer — Tim Helwege, Jr. G; Jordan Scott, Jr., G; Josh Scott, Sr., C.
Outlook: It’s the one in 4A most followers craved. Gordon and Josh Scott have signed with the University of Colorado, and the two programs have history. Sierra beat Lewis-Palmer in consecutive gritty battles in the semifinals in 2009 and 2010 on the way to championships. … In addition, Lewis-Palmer, which has won 26 consecutive games, beat Sierra 45-42 on Feb. 10 that led to winning the Colorado Springs Metro League title. … Gordon and Scott were dominant in the semis. The 6-foot-8 Gordon had 19 points, 15 rebounds and nine blocked shots in downing Broomfield, and the 6-10 Scott scored 22 points, notably 14 of his team’s first 16 in the fourth quarter, in downing Valor Christian. … Jordan Scott also has improved down the stretch of the season and can be a matchup problem at 6-6, and Smith tallied 26 points in the semis with 4-of-7 in 3-point shooting as well as a sweet dunk from the baseline. … Deon Wilson is coming off an 18-point performance in the semis and made four 3-pointers.
Compiled by Neil H. Devlin
