Prior to Saturday’s Great 8 battle against Smoky Hill, George Washington took to the court in warmups that made it clear what the Patriots’ ultimate aim is. In all caps and bold green lettering, the back of the team’s shirts proclaimed ‘UNFINISHED BUSINESS’.
Senior Jon’il Fugett made sure the defending state runner-up Patriots lived up to that mantra at the Denver Coliseum, as the guard’s tear-drop runner in the lane with under five seconds to play enabled George Washington to outlast the Buffaloes, 42-41.
In the opening quarter, the teams went back and forth, ending the frame with the Buffaloes leading 10-9 after Smoky Hill withstood a final, calculated George Washington possession and tacked on a free throw when senior guard Mue Muwwakkil was fouled at the buzzer on a half-court shot.
The second quarter featured more momentum swings, and George Washington took a 20-17 lead into the locker room. Smoky Hill’s leading scorer this season, junior guard Kenny Foster, didn’t have any points in a half that was defined by high defensive pressure and poor shooting.
The Buffaloes looked like they were starting to pull away in the third, but then the Patriots found a spark in senior guard Shawn’Trell White toward the end of the quarter, when he had eight points in the final minute as part of a 9-0 George Washington run.
But while the Patriots took a 31-28 lead into the fourth, Smoky Hill responded with a 9-0 push of their own. The Patriots then clawed back one again, and in the last few minutes the lead kept exchanging hands.
Senior forward William Becker tied the game at 40 with a free throw at the 1:14 mark, and then sophomore point guard Quinten Rock put the Buffaloes ahead with another free throw, 41-40 with 35 ticks left, before Fugett’s decisive bucket.
Senior forward Mo Diallo led George Washington with a dozen points and Fugett finished with nine, while Smoky Hill was paced by 10 points from sophomore point guard Quinten Rock.
No. 5 George Washington (21-5, Denver Prep League champs) advances to play No. 1 Rock Canyon next Friday, March 9, in the Final Four back at the Coliseum. No. 13 Smoky Hill finishes 18-8.
