Eaglecrest Downs Raiders for 5A Title Game Birth
In a game between Aurora rivals Eaglecrest’s Colbey Ross came through in the final minute to lead the Raptors past previously undefeated Rangeview 58-55.
It was the game that many had expected tough, aggressive and fast in parts. Both teams had balanced scoring with Eaglecrest having an incredible eight different players score, while Rangeview had six. Neither team was able to gain much of an advantage through the first half with both teams going on scoring runs of eight points. Rangeview took a 26-25 lead at halftime with this shot by Elijah Blake.
Eaglecrest 25
Rangeview 26
Elijah blake’s 3 send Rangeview to halftime with the lead #copreps pic.twitter.com/iruKgBhJCv— basketballcolorado (@bball_co) March 12, 2016
Eaglecrest employed the same offensive philosophy in the second half as they had done in the Great 8 game against Regis they abandoned the three point shot and only took shots in the paint. It paid off again especially in the third quarter. As the Raptors outscored the Raiders 18-10 capitalizing on the missed Rangeview 3’s leading to run outs.
At the beginning of the 4th quarter the Raiders cranked up the defensive pressure to mount a comeback. The Raiders used a 12-2 run through much of the fourth quarter to take a three point lead with two minutes remaining. But Eaglecrest shot lights out from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter. Ross had a lackluster shooting day but he was clutch for the Raptors in the fourth quarter scoring 10 points in the quarter including going 8/8 from the free throw line.
