DENVER – As it should have been, Denver Christian coaching legend Dick Katte went out a winner.
Katte, the winningest coach in state history, guided the Blue Team to a 92-85 victory over the White Team in The Show boys all-star basketball game Friday at the Pepsi Center. Although this one didn't count on his overall record of 876-233, Katte was all smiles after coaching in his final game.
"Like I told all these guys (after the game), it was nice to go out a winner," said Katte, who retired after the high school season. "At this point there are no more games on my schedule."
The 75-year-old Katte spent 52 years on the Crusaders' bench – 48 as the head man – but he never coached a more talented team than was on the court for him in the 12th annual event.
Included were Gatorade state player of the year Josh Scott of Lewis-Palmer (Monument), Chaparral (Parker) standouts and Division I signees Josh Adams (Wyoming) and Cory Calvert (BYU), along with Denver East sophomore Dominique Collier, who played on the Under 16 U.S. National Team last summer.
The Blue Team roster also included Austin LeFebre, who led Denver Christian to an undefeated season in Class 2A and Katte's eighth state championship.
"Boy, those two guys from Chaparral can really play, and they are winners." Katte said.
Scott and the Chaparral duo won the Class 4A and 5A title, respectively, this season. Scott echoed Katte's observation.
"We were saying (the White Team) had the height and a lot of talent, but we had the winning mentality," Scott said.
After not scoring in the first quarter, Scott amassed 27 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks to earn game Most Valuable Player honors. The University of Colorado-recruit scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to help hold off a late run by the White Team.
"I started out a little bit slow. Obviously, I haven't played a game in awhile, but it was fun playing competition like this," Scott said. "I have known a lot of these guys for awhile, and I was so excited to play with Josh and Cory, especially. They are D1 talents for a reason."
Adams (12 points), Collier and Scott combined on the game's signature play, which came in the second quarter. Out on the break, Adams sprinted down the middle of the court and delivered a behind-the-back pass to Collier on the right wing. Collier barely collected the pass before flipping it behind his head to a trailing Scott, who jammed it before an appreciative crowd.
Calvert added 17 points, but it was his moment during a timeout that he was most happy about. During a break in the action in the first half, Calvert went to the scorer's table and grabbed the microphone. With Nuggets mascot Rocky helping out with a bouquet of flowers, Calvert asked a girl in the crowd to prom.
"I was hoping she would say ‘Yes'," Calvert said. She did, as Rocky handed her the flowers.
Sierra (Colorado Springs)'s Wesley Gordon, who will join Scott at CU, paced the White Team with 16 points, four rebounds and two blocks. Regis Jesuit (Aurora) sophomore Josh Perkins, one of only three underclassmen in the game, added 12 points for the White Team, as did Derrick White of Legend (Parker).
The Show, which is sponsored by the Denver Nuggets and the Gold Crown Foundation, features the top 20 players in the state regardless of year in school or classification, as selected by statewide media. The games will be televised on Altitude several times in April. Check altitude.tv for broadcast times.
Blue Team 92, White Team 85
Blue 21 - 24 - 23 - 24 -- 96
White 26 - 26 - 13 - 20 -- 85
Blue Team
Josh Adams (Chaparral) 5 0-0 12, Drew Bridges (Fruita Monument) 2 2-2 4, Cory Calvert (Chaparral) 7 0-0 17, Dominique Collier (Denver East) 4 0-0 8, Carlton Hurst (Aurora Central) 4 2-2 10, Austin Lefebre (Denver Christian) 3 0-0 6, Jaxon Meardon (Walsh) 1 0-0 3, Austin Roark (Aspen) 1 0-0 3, Josh Scott (Lewis-Palmer) 12 3-5 27. 3-pointers: Calvert 3, Adams 2, Meardon, Roark.
White Team
Nate Engesser (Colorado Springs Christian) 3 0-0 7, Wesley Gordon (Sierra) 8 0-0 16, Austin Haldorson (Highlands Ranch) 2 0-0 5, Jourdon Hunter (Kennedy) 3 0-0 7, Shane Jensen (Arapahoe) 1 0-0 2, Josh Perkins (Regis Jesuit) 4 1-2 12, Kaileb Rodriguez (ThunderRidge) 3 3-4 9,Tanner Samson (Regis Jesuit) 4 0-0 11, Xavier Talton (Sterling) 2 0-0 4, Derrick White (Legend) 4 2-3 12. 3-pointers: Perkins 3, Samson 3, White 2, Engesser, Haldorson, Hunter.
