ThunderRidge avenges regular-season loss to Denver East to advance to Elite Eight

HIGHLANDS RANCH - Yes, the theory is to take it one game at a time, but when the Class 5A boys state basketball brackets were announced, there was no doubt which game would be most anticipated in the Sweet 16.

The expectation was warranted.

In a game seemingly more suited for the later rounds, second-seeded ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch) rallied past No. 3 Denver East 52-49 before a capacity home crowd Tuesday to advance to the state quarterfinals Friday at the Denver Coliseum.

The Grizzlies (20-5) will meet Arapahoe (23-2), the top seed in the John Casey Region. The Colorado High School Activities Association is expected to release game times Wednesday.

"It was as close at it gets, and I thought it was a gutsy effort on our part," ThunderRidge coach Joe Ortiz said.

Denver East and ThunderRidge have developed the best city vs. suburban rivalry in the classification, and it was the second meeting between the teams this season. Denver East won the first one 44-41 on Jan. 5, which also was played on the Grizzlies' home court. Ortiz was just as surprised as many state followers when he saw the Angels in the same quadrant of the bracket.

"East shouldn't have been a 3 seed; I thought East was a 1 seed," Ortiz said of the difficult draw. "Then we have such a rivalry. This was the 15th time, I think, that we have played them in the last 10 years." 

Just as in the first meeting, the outcome was in doubt until the game's final shot. Denver East standout Dominique Collier, who led all scorers with 25 points in a sensational individual performance, missed a long 3-pointer in the waning seconds.

Kaileb Rodriguez, a 6-foot-9 University of California recruit, grabbed his ninth rebound as time expired to send ThunderRidge to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2009 (and ninth time since 2001). Denver East finished its season at 20-5.

Junior Zach Rusk paced the Grizzlies with 15 points, and his 3-pointer from the right corner gave ThunderRidge a 45-42 lead with 4 minutes, 30 seconds remaining. A little more than 2 minutes later, the advantage was 51-42 after Rusk converted both ends of a one-on-one. From there, though, the Grizzlies had to fend off a furious Angels rally down the stretch.

"We knew it was going to come down to the wire again, and luckily we came away with it this time," Rusk said. "This feels great. I'd rather have this win than the last one (against Denver East)."

Consecutive baskets by Collier, which included a spinning move in the lane and a finger-roll finish usually reserved for the next level, coupled with a 3-pointer by Ronnie Harrell made it 51-49 with 1:09 remaining.

However, Denver East then allowed ThunderRidge to run nearly a minute off the clock before the Grizzlies called timeout with 14 seconds showing. Rusk was fouled on the ensuing inbound pass and made one of two free throws to account for the final margin.

"We were surprised they let the clock go down inside 20 seconds there, but we will take whatever we can get," Rusk said.

Rusk also was given the solo task of guarding Collier in the second half after the Angels sophomore erupted for 17 points in the first. His consistent pressure on Collier, who was a member of USA Basketball's Under 16 National Team last summer, helped slow the Angels' overall offensive attack after intermission.

"Coach (Rudy Carey) told me to take over from the beginning, so that's what I tried to do," said Collier, who had 12 points in the first meeting. "I tried to score for my team to help us win, but we came up short."

Denver East will miss the Elite Eight for only the second time since 2005.

MaxPreps Colorado Class 5A boys state basketball brackets

Sweet 16 Roundup
In bracket order

Arapahoe (Centennial) 75, Legend (Parker) 67 OT
Arapahoe, the top seed in the John Casey Region, outlasted the Titans behind 30 points from Shane Jensen. Zach Kocur (19) and Evan Walsh (13) also scored in double figures for the Warriors, who are one game away from returning to the Final Four. Jonas Santana paced Legend (19-7) with 20 points.

Rangeview (Aurora) 66, Poudre (Fort Collins) 51
The Raiders (21-4) are in the Elite Eight for the second year in a row after beating the Impalas, who had scored the upset of the second round by eliminating three-time defending champion Regis Jesuit. Rangeview, which finished second in the East Metro League, received 23 points from senior Gabe Solarin and 20 from sophomore Jeremiah Paige. Jason McClellan totaled 14 points for Poudre (17-9).

Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) 70, Ralston Valley (Arvada) 64
The Bruins (18-7) advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2007 after holding off a top performance by Ralston Valley's Chase Duben. Duben scored 27 points, but Cherry Creek countered with Nick Gauna (22), Sam Owsley (17) and Matt Ratiner (14). The third-seeded Bruins are the highest seed remaining in the RW Truscott Region and will meet Rangeview.

Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch) 78, Fairview (Boulder) 74
Mountain Vista, which finished sixth in the rugged Continental League, knocked off the top seed in the Glenn Wilson Region to advance to the state quarterfinals for the first time. Fairview had won 23 games in a row after a season-opening loss. The hot-shooting Golden Eagles (18-8) received prime performances from Eric Nevins (19 points) and Mitch Carter(17). Fairview's Shane O'Neill led all scorers with 29 points.

Highlands Ranch 63, Grandview (Aurora) 58
Highlands Ranch (22-3) is in the quarterfinals for the third consecutive season and will meet league foe Mountain Vista. Highlands Ranch won the regular-season meeting 84-77 on Feb. 16. Austin Haldorson and Isaiah Parros each scored 14 for the Falcons, while Steve Donatell added 13 to the winning cause. Eric Garcia totaled 25 for Grandview, which included a 10-for-10 effort from the free-throw line.

Chaparral (Parker) 73, Fountain-Fort Carson (Fountain) 67
Chaparral, the top seed in the Ray Ball Region, didn't need a buzzer beater to get past the Trojans. The Wolverines' Division I duo of Cory Calvert and Josh Adams had 22 and 20 points, respectively. Chaparral is one of four Continental League teams among the final eight. Fountain-Fort Carson (17-7) showed well against a schedule that included five other teams in the Sweet 16 (Fruita Monument, Fairview, Cherry Creek, Highlands Ranch and Arapahoe).

Columbine (Littleton) 61, Fruita Monument (Fruita) 41
Senior guard Nick Carpinello scored 25 points for the Jefferson County League champions, as the Rebels (21-4) advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2003. They will meet Chaparral. Fruita Monument ended its season at 21-4, while Drew Bridges ended his Wildcats career with 18 points.