AURORA | Grandview was Aurora’s lone survivor among four teams that played in the opening round of the Class 5A boys state basketball playoffs Wednesday.
Three of the four contests involving city teams were No. 8 vs. No. 9 matchups and the Wolves were able to prevail 72-63 over visiting Palmer in a game delayed by the visitors’ late arrival due to the weather.
Grandview improved to 10-14 on the season and won its first postseason game under new coach Michael Rogers, who took over for Gary Childress, who departed after 16 seasons.
The Wolves advance to the second round in the Jim Baggot Region, where they will make the short trip to play top-seeded Regis Jesuit at 6 p.m. Saturday. The Raiders on the first meeting between the teams 88-41 on Jan. 3.
The other 8-9 matchups went against Aurora teams, as the other team with a home game, Smoky Hill, dropped a 54-48 decision to visiting Horizon. The Buffaloes led by seven points after one quarter, but scored just two points in the second quarter to fall behind at the break and couldn’t claw their way back against the Hawks.
Smoky Hill finished the season 7-17 overall.
Ninth-seeded Aurora Central also got off to a strong start as it led at Heritage 12-5 after one quarter. The Eagles responded to outscore the Trojans by 10 points in the second quarter and took a three-point lead into halftime on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
Heritage kept Aurora Central at bay the rest of the way, bringing coach Ian Calvert’s team to a 15-9 final record.
Junior Ladarius Thomas led the way for the Trojans with 22 points, while junior Elijah Coleman added 15 and junior Daytone Jennings nine.
In the playoffs for the first time since 2012, 10th-seeded Hinkley hung in with seventh-seeded Columbine on the road before the Rebels prevailed 71-57.
The Thunderbirds doubled their win total from the previous season and finished 10-14.
Aurora’s five teams that drew first round byes know their opponents after the first round.
Top-seeded Overland entertains No. 8 Castle View at 2 p.m. Saturday after the SaberCats prevailed in double overtime against ninth-seeded Fountain-Fort Carson, while Aurora’s other top seed besides the Trailblazers and Regis Jesuit — Eaglecrest — welcomes in Heritage at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Second-seeded Rangeview is due to face Highlands Ranch for the second time in the last three playoffs, as the 10th-seeded Falcons pulled off a mild upset with a 56-38 win over No. 7 Chatfield.
Fourth-seeded Cherokee Trail has a 1 p..m. tip-off Saturday to face fifth-seeded Boulder, which outlasted No. 12 Liberty in overtime.
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or [email protected] Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
2015 5A BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS (first round)
(7) Columbine 71, (10) Hinkley 57
(8) Grandview 72, (9) Palmer 63
Score by quarters:
Palmer 10 19 9 25 — 63
Grandview 17 20 15 20 — 72
(8) Heritage 62, (9) Aurora Central 47
Score by quarters:
Aur. Central 12 7 12 16 — 47
Heritage 5 17 18 22 — 62
Aurora Central points: Ladarius Thomas 22, Elijah Coleman 15, Daytone Jennings 9, DJ Johnson 2, CJ Porter 1
(9) Horizon 54, (8) Smoky Hill 48
Score by quarters:
Horizon 11 11 16 16 — 54
Smoky Hill 18 2 10 18 — 48
