Of course, Eaglecrest knew what was happening. With Overland national recruit De’Ron Davis sitting out because of two technical fouls from Wednesday’s game at Mullen — it’s a mandatory one-game suspension — the Raptors saw their opportunity on Friday night in the Class 5A Centennial League and made it happen.
Raptors junior guard Colbey Ross led the way with 27 points, most of them as a result of him getting to the rim.
With Davis not there to protect the basket, Ross drove at will.
“I knew he was out and that was my main goal to do that,” Ross said. “My coach trusted me and I trusted myself to do it.”
No Davis? Afterward, Raptors coach John Olander was simply pleased that his team understood the situation and acted on it.
“We did what we had to do,” Olander said. “You’ve got one of best players in the nation not playing tonight.
“You’ve got to find a way to get this one because when he comes back, there are not too many teams that will beat Overland, us included, with him in there. So when he’s not playing or in foul trouble, you have to make things happen. We were fortunate tonight to we make a few more plays down the stretch.”
After winning 24 games in a row over parts of two seasons, the defending state champion Trailblazers have dropped two-of-three games, and are 8-2 overall, 1-1 in league.
Eaglecrest is 10-0, 2-0.
Ross said his Raptors have a long way to go and are only approaching midseason, but “it’s very pleasing.”
