LITTLETON | The new “Colorado League” had the champion of the revamped C3 Challenge boys basketball tournament, but the Centennial League claimed bragging rights of the 24-team tournament.
The Centennial League — which had both teams in last season’s Class 5A state championship game in Overland and Eaglecrest — finished the three-day tournament at Heritage and Rock Canyon high schools with a 26-22 overall mark, one game better than the Continental League’s 25-23 record and four games better than the eight teams invited to the tournament for the first time (lumped together under the title Colorado League) which went 22-26.
Grandview nearly won the C3 championship in a one-day tournament follow two days of pool play, but coach Michael Rogers’ team fell 58-55 to Valor (one of the new Colorado League teams) Thursday afternoon at Heritage.
The Wolves got impressive efforts in the championship game from senior point guard Lechaun Duhart — whose tying three-point attempt at the buzzer was just off — senior post Gaige Prim, senior Ben Boone and a variety of other role players and finished 5-1 overall, best among Aurora teams in the field, even with a few junior varsity players .
Grandview came into the final day 4-0 and bested an outstanding Doherty team 59-49 in the semifinals to reach the championship game against Valor. The Wolves scored the first 10 points of the second half to take a 10-point lead, but ran out of steam down the stretch as the Eagles turned up their pressure.
Valor missed free throws twice in the final seconds to give Grandview a chance to time but a shot by Duhart (who was selected to the all-tournament team) from just inside half court came short.
Eaglecrest and Smoky Hill finished next among Aurora teams with identical 4-2 records.
The Raptors played all their games at Rock Canyon and opened the final day with a thrilling victory over Lakewood in a game in which Austin Forsberg knocked down a go-ahead 3-pointer as time expired.
Senior-to-be Colbey Ross made the all-tournament team for coach John Olander’s Eaglecrest team.
The Buffs finished 4-1 in games they actually played, as their record included a forfeit loss of their first game on Tuesday when they had the wrong game times and missed their first contest.
Overland topped Cherokee Trail 51-50 — with Daijon Smith’s 3-pointer with 40 seconds left putting the ‘Blazers in front for good — in one of the only inter-league matchups and both Centennial League outfits finished 3-3 for the tournament.
Nick Holmes represented Overland on the all-tournament team.
With just a few holdover players from last season, Regis Jesuit finished 2-4.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
2016 C3 CHALLENGE BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Centennial League (26-22): Arapahoe 4-2, Cherry Creek 2-4, CHEROKEE TRAIL 3-3, EAGLECREST 4-2, GRANDVIEW 5-1, Mullen 1-5, OVERLAND 3-3, SMOKY HILL 4-2
Continental League (25-23): Castle View 1-5, Chaparral 3-3, Heritage 3-3, Legend 3-3, Mountain Vista 5-1, REGIS JESUIT 2-4, Rock Canyon 4-2, ThunderRidge 4-2
Colorado League (22-26): Chatfield 1-5, Doherty 4-2, Fort Collins 4-2, Grand Junction Central 3-3, Lakewood 3-3, Monarch 0-6, Rampart 1-5, Valor 6-0
All-tournament team: Sam Masten (Rock Canyon), COLBEY ROSS (EAGLECREST), Jalen Sanders (Valor), Kayle Knuckles (Valor), Brevin Trimble (Doherty), Corey Seng (ThunderRidge), Ronnie Degray III (Chaparral), NICK HOLMES (OVERLAND), LECHAUN DUHART (GRANDVIEW), Kyle Lukasiewicz (Arapahoe), Isaac Essien (Mountain Vista)
