Perkins Picks His Places Propels Regis Past Legend

By Matt Langley

LangleyScouting.blogspot.com

2/1/2013

Parker, CO – The Regis Jesuit Raiders (13-4) entered the Coliseum Friday night at Legend High School and emerged victorious defeating the Legend Titans (12-5) 72-61.  The Titians had been undefeated at home this year. The Coliseum is a tough place to play, featuring a raucous student body section that heckles the opposing team’s best player the entire night.  This night, however, the other team was not rattled by the crowd nor was Legend able to take advantage of its obvious size advantage.

Regis was not shaken by the home crowd and barnstormed its way to a 24-11 1^st quarter lead behind the hot hand of Junior Devin Kadillak.  Kadillak scored 3 three pointers and led the Raiders with 10 points.  Regis got 7 points from highly recruited Junior Josh Perkins in the quarter.

The Titans fought back in the second quarter out scoring the Raiders 19-10. Legend Junior Zach Milhalicz used his big 6’7 frame to control the paint in the early part of the 2^ndquarter scoring 5 straight points. The Legend defense clamped down on Regis holding them scoreless for nearly 3:00 until Perkins drove baseline for a dunk over a Legend defender. After two free throws by Milhalicz, the Titans cut the lead to three, 31-28 with 1:40 remaining in the quarter.  However, the Raiders pushed the lead back to 6 points at half time 30-36, behind 5 straight points from Sophomore Bryan Staerkel.

Staerkel picked up where he had left off in the 1^st half scoring two side spinning three point buckets in the first minute of the 3^rd quarter, pushing the Raider lead to 12 points.  Over the next 4:00 the Titans awakened again, going on a 13-3 run lead by Senior Jonathan Cosmann’s 6 points and an assist to fellow Senior Blake Turman whose lay-up cut the Regis lead to 2 points, 45-43, with 2:55 left in the quarter.  While Perkins shots were not falling in the 3^rdquarter, he dished out a number of assists that kept the Raiders ahead of the Titans 49-46 at the end of the third quarter.

Perkins and Junior Zach Smith got the Raiders another quick start at the beginning of the fourth quarter, pushing the lead to 53-46 with 7:13 left in the game.

The Titans cut the lead to 56-55 after four straight points from Truman. Kadillak then hit his fourth three pointer of the game to push the lead back to 4 points 59-55. Titian Junior Taylor Jenson made two free throws to cut the lead again to 2 points 59-57 with 3:37 left in the game. That is as close as it would get for the Titians, as it was then time for Perkins to shine. The Titans aggressive defense was spread out by the Raiders offense. The Raiders ran their stall/spread offense very efficiently; quick cuts and fundamental passing made sure Perkins had lanes to drive and dish, while also making sure the Raiders best free throw shooter hand the ball in his hands as the Titans began to foul.  Perkins scored 11 points in the quarter going 7-8 from the free throw line.

            Legend had four players in double figures: Cosmann and Jensen led with 11 points, while Truman and Mihalicz each scored 10.  Regis was lead by Perkins’ double -double of 21 points and 11 assits, while Kadillak had 13 points, and Staerkel had 11.

The win will keep the Raiders ranked in the Top 10 in Class 5A, even though the Raiders lost earlier in the week to 2^nd ranked Mountain Vista. It also preserves an outside shot at the Continental League Crown for the Raiders.  To win the Continental Crown, the Raiders will need some help from a few other teams, as both ThunderRidge and Mountain Vista remain unbeaten in league play.