LITTLETON | The Continental League won the first day, but the war is far from over in the Centennial vs. Continental League Challenge boys basketball tournament.
Continental League teams went a combined 11-5 against Centennial League squads — including Regis Jesuit’s 2-0 showing — Thursday on the opening day of the inaugural tournament pitting the two powerhouse conferences against each other, but two days of play remain at Heritage High School.
Only two Centennial League teams emerged unbeaten as coach Keenon Clement’s Smoky Hill squad and an Eaglecrest team minus head coach John Olander won both of their games to start.
The Buffaloes worked in a variety of new faces around returners Dalontae Kelly, Octavian Walker and D’mitri Newson and played with the same tough, scrappy energy they had last year on their way to victories over Chaparral and Rock Canyon.
Eaglecrest, meanwhile, gained a measure of revenge for an overtime Great 8 loss to Mountain Vista by blasting the Golden Eagles 77-54. The Raptors got a big shot in the arm from the play of senior guard Peter Anderson, who scored regularly on transition baskets and a few deep 3-pointers.
Anderson also played well, as did seniors Blend Avdili and Elijah Ross — who got back just in time from a visit to the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, where he received his first scholarship offer — in the Raptors’ second game against Legend. Eaglecrest rallied from a deficit as large as 17 points in the first half and roared back for a 60-53 victory.
Cherokee Trail split its two games — with one the losses coming to Regis Jesuit — while an Overland team without stars De’Ron Davis and Austin Conway and others dropped both its contests, as did Grandview under new coach Michael Rogers.
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. Facebook: Aurora Prep Sentinel
CENTENNIAL VS. CONTINENTAL CHALLENGE
Day One standings
Centennial League — Arapahoe 0-2, Cherry Creek 0-2, CHEROKEE TRAIL 1-1, EAGLECREST 2-0, GRANDVIEW 0-2, Mullen 0-2, OVERLAND 0-2, SMOKY HILL 2-0; Continental League — Chaparral 1-1, Heritage 2-0, Highlands Ranch 1-1, Legend 1-1, Mountain Vista 1-1, REGIS JESUIT 2-0, Rock Canyon 1-1, ThunderRidge 2-0
Day Two schedule
8-9 a.m.: EAGLECREST vs. Rock Canyon (Main Gym); Arapahoe vs. Chaparral (Aux. Gym); 9-10 a.m.: Arapahoe vs. Rock Canyon (Main Gym); EAGLECREST vs. Chaparral (Aux. Gym); 10-11 a.m.: OVERLAND vs. Mountain Vista (Main Gym); SMOKY HILL vs. Legend (Aux. Gym); 11 a.m.-Noon: OVERLAND vs. Legend (Main Gym); Mountain Vista vs. SMOKY HILL (Aux. Gym); Noon-1 p.m.: GRANDVIEW vs. ThunderRidge (Main Gym); Heritage vs. CHEROKEE TRAIL (Aux. Gym); 1-2 p.m.: GRANDVIEW vs. Heritage (Main Gym); ThundeerRidge vs. CHEROKEE TRAIL (Aux. Gym); 2-3 p.m.: Cherry Creek vs. REGIS JESUIT (Main Gym); Mullen vs. Highlands Ranch (Aux. Gym); 3-4 p.m.: Mullen vs. REGIS JESUIT (Main Gym); Cherry Creek vs. Highlands Ranch (Aux. Gym)
