DENVER | At the end of a game in which it played far from its best game, the Smoky Hill boys basketball team was still in position to make the Class 5A Final Four.

Playing in the Great 8 for the first time in more than a decade, the Buffaloes needed one stop against George Washington to move into the semifinals, only to have their dreams dashed on a wild final sequence in a stinging 42-41 loss at the Denver Coliseum.

With time running down, Jon’il Fugett’s teardrop in the lane was good and Smoky Hill couldn’t get off a shot in the final three seconds to have its season come to an end at the hands of last season’s 5A runners-up. The fifth-seeded Patriots moved into an 8:30 p.m. March 9 semifinal contest against No. 1 Rock Canyon, which topped No. 8 Overland 54-47.

The Centennial League wasn’t shut out of the semifinals, however, as sixth-seeded Grandview took down No. 3 Chaparral 59-53 in another Great 8 contest. No. 2 ThunderRidge is also still alive.

Coach Anthony Hardin’s Smoky Hill team managed its season-low in points and had just one player in double figures in sophomore Quinten Rock, who scored 10 points and put the Buffaloes in front 41-40 when he made 1-of-2 free throws inside the final minute.

Junior Kenny Foster scored all nine of his points in the second half and senior John Harge also contribute nine for the Buffaloes, who were hampered by a knee injury to senior center Will Becker shortly before halftime. Becker came back in the second half, but was hindered and finished with two points.

Courtney Oakes is Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Sentinel Prep Sports

(5) GEORGE WASHINGTON 42, (13) SMOKY HILL 41

Score by quarters:

Smoky Hill          10   7  11  13 — 41

Geo. Washington  9  11  11  11 — 42

SMOKY HILL (41)

Quinten Rock 3 4-5 10, Eric Williams 1 6-6 8, John Harge 4 0-0 9, Will Becker 0 2-4 2, Kenny Foster 3 2-2 9, Mue Muwwakkil 0 3-5 3, Kyle Cabs 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 17-24 41.

GEORGE WASHINGTON (42)

Jon’il Fugett 4 0-1 9, D’Auntray Pierce 2 1-4 5, Mo Diallo 4 4-4 12, Xavier Cooper 3 0-0 6, Devon Jones 1 0-0 3, Shawn’Trell White 3 0-3 7, Blake Whitelaw 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 5-12 42.

3-point field goals — Smoky Hill (2): Kenny Foster, John Harge; George Washington (3): Jon’il Fugett, Devon Jones, Shawn’Trell White. Total fouls — Smoky Hill 16, George Washington 21. Fouled out — George Washington: White. Technical fouls — None.