4A State Championship Preview
The best of the north: Longmont, meets the best of the south: Air Academy, in the 4A state championship today at the Coors Events Center in Boulder at 6:00. These teams are nearly carbon copies of each other, well sort of. Carbon copy in the sense that they are well coached, run their systems, and have that one player that can control the game but that is more than willing to rebound, dish out assists and make a key play on defense to help his team win.
Air Academy is loaded with seniors that have experience in big games as a few have played on the state championship soccer team this year. Over the last two years the Kadets of complied a 42-11 record with senior guard David Louthan leading the way. Louthan has lead Air Academy in scoring and rebounding the last two years and doesn’t shy away from the big moment. His teammates Austin Dewing and Paul Ambuul are very solid and take full advantage of their opportunities when presented.
Longmont has a bevy of solid juniors and seniors that also have big game experience as they played on the state runner up football team. However the difference maker for the Trojans is smoooooth junior Justinian Jessup. Jessup has the talent to average 25-30 points game but he is a team guy and is a skilled passer. Juniors Kevin Mitchell, Blake O’Grady, and senior Clint Sigg can dominate the paint. As is the case with the Kadets the Trojans trust each other and believe that their teammates will come through when it counts.
Air Academy wins if they can make free throws and out rebound the Trojans. Missing free throws nearly cost the Kadets versus Lewis-Palmer. They can’t shoot 8 of 20 again. Longmont has shown that they will turnover the ball in spurts. Can Air Academy convert those turnovers into points? Air Acadmey will want to limit Jessup’s effect on the game, the best way to do that is to keep the ball out of his hands. However if Jessup is allowed to bring up the ball they will need to keep him out of the lane. Kadets must dominate the boards on both ends of the floor.
Longmont is undefeated this year and have withstood late game charges but a numbers of good teams. The Trojans win if their defense can keep Air Academy from finding continuity. The Kadets are more than willing to shoot the 3 from the corners. Therefore Longmont’s 1-3-1 will need to rotate quickly, if they choose to run it. Jessup will need to push the issue early while still playing with in himself. Like in the Sierra game, the Trojans will need to do a good job by converting second chance points. The Kadets are a great keep away team, so the Trojans can not afford to be down in the 4th quarter.
