Legend Earns First Final Four Trip Over Fairview
By Matt Langley
BasketballColorado.com
3/8/2013
Denver, CO- The Legend Titans advanced to their first 5A final four in school history Friday night defeating the Fairview Knights 46-45 at the Denver Coliseum. The contest featured two evenly matched and well prepared teams with coaches that have been to the final four before. It was only appropriate that the game would not be decided until the final seconds.
The Titans began the game without senior forward Blake Truman who was out with a foot injury. Fairview’s senior forward Austin Sparks took full advantage, scoring 8 of his 15 points in the quarter. Fairview’s Trevor McQueeny also started out hot as well, scoring 7 points in the quarter. It looked as if the Knights might charge away with the game scoring the last 8 points of the quarter taking a 19-11 lead into the 2nd quarter.
The Titan defense picked up its intensity in the second quarter holding Fairview to 7 points in the quarter. Titan’s senior Connor Orgill was instant energy grabbing rebounds and scoring 6 straight points bringing Legend to within 2 points, 22-20, with 4:10 to go in the quarter. Points would be hard to come by for either team as they combined for just six points in the last 4:00 of the second quarter. Fairview took a 26-22 lead into halftime.
Legend went 7 of 15 from the field in the 3rd quarter to score 15 points and cut the Knight lead to one going into the 4th quarter, 38-37. Fairview shot 36% in the quarter but went 4 of 4 from the free throw line to maintain the lead on the Titans.
After a 4th quarter of trading leads, the game would be decided in the paint by the Titan forwards. Even though senior guard Jonathan Cosmann went scoreless for the game, he had three assists, and none more important than his last. With less than a minute to play Cosmann dribbled to the left wing and gave a perfect entry pass to junior Zach Mihalicz posting up on the block. Mihalicz calmly turned baseline and scored over Sparks giving Legend the 46-45 lead. The Knights would have one last chance. With less than 10 seconds left Senior Brent Wrapp passed to McQueeny on the wing for a three-pointer that came up short. Orgill grabbed his 7th rebound of the night, sealing the win for Legend.
Sparks’ 15 points led Fairview, and Mcqueeny added 14. Legend got 15 points from senior Taylor Jenson, 12 from Orgill, and 11 points from Mihalicz. Legend advances to it first final four in school history and will face top seeded Denver East Friday at the Coors Event Center.
