Eaglecrest Advances to Final Four Over Regis
By Matt Langley
BasketballColorado.com
3/8/2013
Denver, CO- Eaglecrest’s junior Jaisean Jackson was averaging only 9 ppg going into the Raptors’ Elite Eight showdown with Regis Jesuit Friday afternoon at the Denver Coliseum. The Raptors’ guard scored 19 points to help lead the Raptors past the Raiders in the back and forth game, 64-57.
Eaglecrest ‘s defense forced Regis into six turnovers and contained the Raiders highly recruited junior guard Josh Perkins to 3 points in the first quarter and took a 21-13 lead into the 2nd quarter. The Raptors were led in scoring by Jackson’s 5 points.
The Raiders’ Perkins was able to shake the Raptors’ defense to score 9 of the Raiders 13 points in the second quarter. The Raiders defense was able to hold the fast-paced Raptors to 12 points in the quarter. Eaglecrest took a 33-26 lead into halftime.
Eaglecrest scored the first 5 points of the 3rd quarter to extend its lead to 11 points, 38-27. The Raiders, however, went on a 14-5 run in the last five minutes of the quarter to cut the Raptor lead to one point, after a Bryan Staerkel three-pointer, 47-46. Staerkel, the sophomore guard, led Regis in the comeback with 8 points in the quarter.
Perkins drained a three-pointer with 7:00 left in the quarter to give Regis it first lead of the game, 49-47. Regis sophomore guard Cam Beards gave Regis a four point lead, 51-47. Perkins then scored 4 points in the next minute of play to give Regis a 55-51 lead with 4:15 to play. The Raptors rolled off 5 points in the next minute to retake the lead 56-55 after a Jackson basket with 3:05 to play. The next two minutes were filled with missed shots and turnovers by both teams. After a Regis time out with less than minute left, Perkins drove and spun into the lane; however, the Raptors senior Treshawn Wilford perfectly timed the Perkins spin move and stripped the ball from Perkins at the free throw line and drove the distance for the lay-up and the foul. The referees called an intentional foul on the play giving Wilford an extra free throw and the ball back to the Raptors with 41 seconds left in the game. Wilford made only one of the free throws, but the play gave the Raptors a 59-55 lead. Perkins scored his 27th point of the game, but the Raptors still had a four point lead.
In addition to Jackson’s 19 points, Sean Watkins added 15 points, and Wilford chipped in 13 points for the Raptors. Perkins 27 points led all scorers while Staerkel added 13 points for the Raiders.
The Raptors will face Mountain Vista Friday, at the Coors Events Center in state semifinal game.
