Carey and Crew Too Much for Warriors

By Matt Langley

www.BasketballColorado.com

1/31/2015

Denver, CO – The Thunderdome is a special place for Brian Carey this year. Denver East’s lead guard has had two of his top four scoring games on the hollowed court of Manual High School. While Carey did the bulk of the damage 34 points and 10 assists against the Warriors Saturday at the Thunderdome he got plenty of help from his supporting cast. Unsung Angels such as sophomore guard Jack Buckmelter, junior wing Deron Harrell and senior guard Edmund Myers hit key baskets and led the surge at times for the Angels.

Carey exploded for 18 points in the first quarter, converting on drives and long range three’s. The Angels held a 17-5 edge with 4:30 left in the first quarter. The Warriors committed too many turnovers in the early going due to the lack of another quality ball handler besides senior guard Malik Hart. The Warriors played too fast at times running directly into the teeth of the East defense. However after Hart started keeping the ball himself and attacking the defense he lived in the paint. If he didn’t score he was fouled and knocked down seven of eight free throws on his way to a 12 point quarter. The Warriors made a mad charge at the Angels after back to back old fashioned three point plays by senior Troy Green and Hart.  After an offensive put back by Green pulled the Warriors to with two points 21-19 with 2:00 Carey and Harrel had a five point mini burst to end the Warriors threat in the first quarter and helped East to a 28-23 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The up and down pace slowed down in the second quarter with both teams playing more zone than man to man. The pace was also slowed down by the fact that both teams were shooting in the bonus before the end of the first quarter. East’s junior guard Jack Buckmelter started the quarter off with a three pointer to put East up by eight. The Warriors worked to get the lead East lead back down but crucial turnovers and big plays by Harrell, Meyers, and sophomore Ian Osburne kept the Warriors at arms length.  The Warriors senior Pal Tut provided a bit of a spark scoring six points in the quarter. Tut the 6’7  slender forward went hard in the paint providing a much needed presence. Green scored the last basket of the quarter for either team with 2:00 left.  The Angels went to the locker room up 39-34.

The second half belonged to the Angels and the third quarter belong to Meyers. Meyers hit back to back three’s that took any wind out of the Warrior sails. The Warriors struggled to get shots to fall and started to get out worked on the boards. Both Hart and Green had good games  scoring 23 points each and Green was close to double figure rebounds but no other Warriors could seem to get going in the 2nd half. The Warriors also struggled to get stops on the defensive end of the floor. Much of that was due to the Angels taking their time against the Warrior zone multiple times holding the ball eating time waiting for the Warriors to extend their  defense which allowed Carey to attack the gaps creating offense.  After Meyers started out hot,  Carey continued lighting up the Warriors scoring 16 points in the half including going 7 of 9 from the free throw line in the 4th quarter.  The Angels won 80-66 but it felt much greater than that.

Double Figure Scorers

Denver East

Carey 34

Buckmelter 12

Meyers 10

Willis 10 and 11 rebounds

Warriors

Hart 23

Green 23