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| Grandview’s Branden Cosby-Lee blocks Legend’s Blake Truman towards the end of the first half in the 2nd round of the 5A state playoffs |
The View is Sweet 16 for Legend After Defeating Grandview
By Matt Langley
Langleyscouting.blogspot.com
3/2/2013
Aurora, CO – After a fast paced first quarter, a five point second quarter doomed the host Grandview Wolves as the visiting Legend Titans advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 5A State Tournament with a 75-67 victory Saturday night.
Legend took a 20-17 lead into the second quarter behind 4 three-pointers, two of which came from senior Jonathan Cosmann. Grandview’s scoring came from the paint as junior Akram Imam scored seven points while senior Branden Cosby-Lee added six. Both teams exceled in the crowed gymnasium with both student sections at fever pitches for the state playoff game as the quarter came to a close.
After senior Aaron Montgomery made a free throw early in the 2nd quarter, Grandview failed to score until Imam made a bucket inside the paint with 3:47 left. The Wolves would not scored again until Imam scored another bucket with 1:20 left in the quarter. As Grandview cooled off, Legend scored 15 points in the quarter with junior Elijah Cherryington and senior Connor Orgill combining for 9 of the points. Legend took a 35-22 lead into halftime.
Cosmann started the 3rd quarter off with another three-pointer for the Titans growing the lead to 16. The Titans connected on 3 more three-point shots to score 20 points in the quarter. The Wolves also scored 20 points in the quarter, led by Imam’s eight points as he continued to dominate the paint, and senior Tanner Gentry added 6. The quarter ended with Legend holding a 55-42 lead.
Legend’s Cosman was called for his fourth foul with 6:30 left in the game putting the Wolves in the double bonus. The Wolves took full advantage of the free throws to cut into the Titan led. In fact the Wolves went 12 of 13 from the free throw line in the quarter. The Wolves also used a trapping defense after Cosmann left the game to create a number of turnovers that forced Legend to put Cosmann back in the game. The Wolves junior Devon Brown sank two free throws to tie the game at 57 with 4:55 left to play in the game. The Wolves then took the lead after Imam sank 1 of 2 free throws with 3:23 left to play. Titan senior Blake Truman scored the four points to give Legend the lead back 63-58 with 1:37 remaining. The Wolves cut the lead to 63-61 after a Jarred Burr three-pointer. After a Legend turnover and a Grandview foul on a rebound, Truman sank two free throws pushing the lead to four, 65-61 with less than a minute left to play. A Grandview player was then whistled for a technical foul after another foul after a Grandview missed shot with 42 seconds left giving the Titans four free throws. The Titans made two of the four which ended the Wolves come back.
Cosmann led the Titans with 22 points while Truman added 14 and Cherrytington added 10 points. Imam led all scorers with 23 points, Garcia added 14, Gentry 12, and Cosby-Lee 10. The Titans will next face Chatfield on Wednesday in the Sweet 16.
