Cherokee Trail Claws Out a Win at Arapahoe, Claims Crown

Matt Langley

Langleyscouting.blogspot.com

February 22, 2013

Centennial, CO- The Cherokee Trail Cougars extended their winning streak to 9 games as they defeated the Arapahoe Warriors Friday night at Arapahoe High School, 63-61 in overtime.   The Cougars over came only scoring 5 points in the second quarter, losing its leading scorer with 4:30 left in the game, only making one field goal in the fourth quarter and a buzzer beater to send the game to overtime to claim the Centennial League title.

            In the first quarter, the Cougars pounced on the Warriors starting the game on an 11-3 run.  The pace wasn’t slow but each team was taking its time on the offensive end and looked for their opportunities to score in transition.   Senior Drick Bernstein knocked down his second three pointer of the quarter to push the Cougar lead to 17-6 with a minute remaining in the quarter.  Arapahoe senior Matt Glasscock scored four points in the last minute including a dunk over Bernstein as the buzzer sounded to end the quarter. The cougars took a 17-10 lead into the second quarter.

            Glasscock’s dunk awakened the Warrior’s spirit. The Warriors held the Cougars to just five points in the quarter. The Cougars controlled the ball and did not turn it over more than three times in the quarter, but they could not make their shots, missing five shots in the paint and multiple three pointers. Senior Mitch Albyn scored 10 of the Warriors 14 points in the quarter including the last 2 points of the quarter to finally give the Warriors a 24-22 lead going into halftime. 

            The Cougars started the third quarter with a 9-2 run that gave them a 31-26 lead with 5:30 left in the quarter. Senior Anthony Murray led the Cougar charge with 6 points in the first 2:30 of the quarter.  Both teams again were more than happy to eat time off the clock in the third quarter shortening the game.  The Warriors turned the ball over five times in the quarter and were lucky to only be down four at the end of the quarter with another bucket at the buzzer by Glasscock, 37-33.

            As the fourth quarter started, the fouls began to mount up for each team. The open yet deliberate game pace lost its flow.  With 4:37 left in the game Bernstein, the leading scorer for the Cougars, went up to get a rebound off a missed Arapahoe free throw and came down awkwardly and sustained what appeared to be some type of knee injury. Bernstein walked off the court with assistance from his teammates and did not re-enter the game.  The Cougars struggled to get the ball into the hoop afterwards.  Senior Jay Nelson scored the only Cougar field goal on a driving lay up with 3:05 left to go in the game.  The Cougars shot 16 free throws in the quarter making 11.  After the Nelson lay-up, the Warriors scored 4 points to pull to 45-43 with 1:56 remaining. Cougar senior Phillip Mars made two free throws pushing the cougar lead back to 4 points. Then, Arapahoe’s Alybin drained another three pointer to cut the lead to 1 point with 1:36 remaining.  Senior Solomon Yon stepped up and knocked down two free throws with 1:18 left to give the Cougars a 49-46 lead. The Warriors are famous for running the offensive set until they get the shot they want.  That is exactly what they did eating up 47 seconds of the clock until senior Thomas Trotman Jr. drove into the Cougar Defense knocking down a free-throw-line jumper cutting the Cougar lead to 49-48.  After the Cougars missed two free throws with 28.5 second left, the Warriors tried to get the ball to their man Glasscock on the post, but the pass was mishandled and the Warriors turned the ball over. The Cougar’s Yon was fouled, and he made the two free throws giving the Cougars a 51-48 lead with less than ten seconds left. The Warriors put the ball in play without calling a timeout and finally passed the ball to Trotman who dribbled through half court and looked as if he might get trapped, but he reversed pivoted and hoisted up a high arching shot that swished through the net as time expired sending the game to over time, 51-51.

            In overtime the Cougars claimed a four-point lead after Nelson sank two more free throws with 2:28 left.  The Warriors kept firing away at the Cougars, but after a Trotman lay-up with 55 seconds left, the Warriors wouldn’t get any closer. A Yon free throw with four seconds left gave the Cougars a 63-58 lead; Trotman came down and drilled another three pointer as time expired.

            Alybin led the Warriors in scoring with 16 points, while Trotman and Glasscock added 14. The Cougars had four players in double figures: Bernstine and Yon scored 10, Murray had 14, and Nelson lead all scorers with 17 points. 

The Cougars 63-61 victory earned them the Centennial Championship that comes with a first round bye in next weeks State Tournament. More than likely, the Cougars will end up with a two seed.