AURORA | A look back at some of the key games, tournaments and happenings in Aurora prep sports between Dec. 8-13, 2016:
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
Vista PEAK dominated its own wrestling mats Dec. 10 with a comfortable win in its second annual Bison Invitational.
Connor Ireland (132 pounds), Jayden Smith (182) and Tuz Enriquez (220) won titles for Vista PEAK, which scored 201.5 points to outsdistance a multi-classification field that included Overland in fourth and Hinkley in fifth.
Grant Bradley (106), Isaiah Bradley (113), Sean Kelly (138) and Kaelin Chin (195) won titles for the Trailblazers, while the Thunderbirds had four finalists.
• Back from a 2-1 trip to Orem, Utah, in the FreeTax USA Shootout, the Smoky Hill boys basketball team went through a cold spell early in its much-anticipated game at George Washington Dec. 13 and fell too far behind to catch up in an 80-73 loss. Sophomore Kenny Foster finished with 19 points, while Muu Muwwakkil added 15 and Jahwan Phillips 14 for the Buffaloes, who cut a double-digit deficit to six points in the later stages of the fourth quarter before falling to the undefeated Patriots.
• The Vista PEAK boys basketball team remained undefeated with a 71-66 win over Lewis-Palmer in a game it led from start to finish on Dec. 13. The Bison were coming off their second tournament championship of the season when they posted a 68-46 victory over Manual in the Ponderosa Invitational final Dec. 10. Dylan Holt and Marquise Johnson poured in 16 points apiece, while Tre Early added 14 and Quincy Sanders chipped in 11 as the Bison improved to 6-0.
• Cherokee Trail’s Max Gonzales became the program’s first champion at its annual trek to the Jimmy Hamada Classic wrestling tournament hosted by La Costa Canyon, California. Gonzales captured the 220-pound title with an 8-2 decision over Dominik Urena of Elsinore, Calif. Seniors Josh Richardson (160 pounds) and Zeke Silva (195 pounds) each placed fourth. Richardson lost by fall in the second period to Gibby Carrillo of Brawley Union, Calif., while Silva lost a close decision to Cody Williams of Lakewood, Calif.
• The Grandview boys basketball team outscored Mountain Vista 11-5 in overtime on its way to a 66-60 victory Dec. 10. Senior Lechaun Duhart piled up 31 points and senior Gaige Prim added 23 as the Wolves improved to 4-0.
• Despite 15 points from senior Selah Ruckard, the Eaglecrest girls basketball team fell to Silver Creek 61-43 in the Douglas County Holiday Tournament final Dec. 10. The Raptors were in search of their second straight tournament title, but fell behind big early and couldn’t catch up to drop to 5-1.
• Junior Deon Barfield tipped in a missed free throw by senior Jaizec Lottie with just over 10 seconds left and the Cherokee Trail boys basketball team held on for a 60-59 win over visiting Lakewood Dec. 9. Lottie scored a game-high 23 points as the Cougars moved to 4-0. Tyson Rodgers and Tyrone Patterson added eight points apiece for Cherokee Trail.
• The Grandview girls basketball team piled it on in the first quarter of its non-league game at Regis Jesuit Dec. 9, finishing the opening period with a 25-2 edge on its way to 59-30 victory. Alisha Davis scored 12 points, Michaela Onyenwere 11 and Jaiden Galloway 10 for the Wolves, while Francesca Belibi’s 13 paced the Raiders.
• The Overland wrestling team beat Cherry Creek 43-36 in a Centennial League dual meet Dec. 8 for what is believed to be the program’s first win over the Bruins in two decades. Mikey Mendoza (132 pounds), Sean Kelly (138) and Stephen Iturralde (145) all won by pin, while Grant and Isaiah Bradley posted victories at 113 and 120 pounds, respectively.
