Warriors Outlast Knights
By Matt Langley
12/4/2012
LangleyScouting.blogspot.com
Arvada, CO – The last time the Fairview Knights and the Montbello Warriors faced each other, it was in last year’s state basketball tournament, and the Knights ran away with a 30-point victory. This time, however, the Warriors were able to handle the Knights’ pressure defense and used timely shooting to secure a 52-50 win in the first round of the 5thAnnual Ralston Valley Round Up.
Fairview Senior Point Guard Brent Wrapp sank two three pointers to start the game and helped the Knights to a 12-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. Montebllo was led by Junior Forward Karamoko Cisse keeping the Warriors in the game with his post play. With four minutes left in the second quarter Fairview stretched it’s lead to six points after a steal and dunk by Junior Guard Gabe Tierney. After a quick time out, Montbello was able to use its advantage with Cisse inside to create turnovers and defensive rebounds to pull ahead at half time 21-20.
Montbello Senior guard A.J. Hayes started the third quarter scoring five straight points, and Sophomore Wing Troy Green scored six points in the quarter to push the lead to eight for the Warriors. Missed free throws and turnovers caused by the Knights’ pressure defense would keep the Warriors from pushing the lead any further in the third quarter.
Even with Fairview Senior Guard Trevor McQueeney scoring 15 of his career high 19 points in the second half keeping the Knights in the game, the Warriors were up 45-35 with 3:55 left in the fourth quarter. From that point forward neither team was able to capitalize at the free throw line. The Warriors shot 16-28 from the free throw line for the game while the Knights were just 5-14. With Hayes guarding Wrapp for most of the second half rendering him ineffective, Fairview’s McQueeney was able to make shots in the lane pulling the Knights within six points with 2:14 left in the game. Green would then miss two free throws and then a Montbello turnover on a charging call with 1:43 left in the game kept the Knights in the game. The Warriors would then sink a free throw pushing the Montbello lead to 52-47. McQueeney would then hit a long three point shot to pull the Knights within two, 52-50. Fairview fouled with 36.6 seconds left in the game putting Montbello at the free throw line again. After missing both foul shots Fairview was able to get the rebound and call it’s final time out with 9.5 second left in the game. Fairview was able to get the ball inbounds, but the pass inside was deflected out to Wrapp for a three point shot that missed at the buzzer.
Fairview was led in scoring by McQueeney’s 19 points, Wrapp finished with 11, and junior Miles MacKenzie had 10. Montbello had four players scoring in double figures: Hayes and Green both had 12, while Cisse and Senior guard Malik Taylor each had 10 points. Montbello next plays Thursday at 8:00 p.m. versus 4A power Valor Christian in the Semi-Finals of the Ralston Round Up.