CENTENNIAL | The lucky number of the Eaglecrest boys basketball team is 13.
As in the number of seasons in a row the Raptors have been to at least the Sweet 16 round of the postseason, where they are again following a 61-53 Class 6A first round home victory over Rocky Mountain Friday night.
Senior Anthony Nettles scored the last eight points for second-seeded Eaglecrest — on his way to a game-high 23 — which outscored the 34th-seeded Lobos 15-7 in the final five minutes to advance. Now winners of 15 straight, the Raptors will play host to No. 15 Arvada West (18-6) — which defeated No. 18 Northfield 67-38 — at 7 p.m. March 4 in the Sweet 16.
Sophomore Kris Coleman had a key 3-pointer in the final stages of the game and finished with 10 points for Eaglecrest, which came in off a victory in the Centennial League Challenge title game almost a week earlier, while senior Garrett Barger added nine.
Eaglecrest is one of five Aurora area teams among the final 16, as it joins No. 1 Rangeview (which topped No. 33 Cherokee Trail), No. 9 Regis Jesuit (a victor against No. 24 Monarch), No. 22 Overland (which upset No. 11 Broomfield on the road) and No. 25 Grandview (which knocked off No. 8 Horizon on its home floor).
Updated 2025 Class 6A boys basketball state playoff scoreboard & schedule, here
The Raptor (which lost a heartbreaker in the semifinals last season) have not failed to reach at least the Sweet 16 since way back in the 2011-2012 season with a second-round loss to Fountain-Fort Carson, but went on to win the then-5A state championship the next season. Eaglecrest has been to at least the Great 8 in three of the previous four seasons.
This season’s run at a title began with a tough challenge against a Rocky Mountain team that came into the game off a play-in victory over No. 31 Heritage. The Lobos (13-12) appeared comfortable on the road again as they fell behind Eaglecrest by eight after one quarter, but cut the deficit in half by halftime.
Despite eight points in the third period from Nettles, the Raptors saw their lead halved again after three quarters with just a 42-40 advantage going into the final period.
It was all square at 46-46 with 5:02 remaining before Nettles drew a foul on a drive and made a free throw to put Eaglecrest back in front.
Coleman followed with his second 3-pointer two minutes later for a four-point edge and Nettles extended the advantage with a 2:27 left when he picked the pocket of Rocky Mountain guard Avante Hood and went in for an uncontested layup. The lead never got below four points the rest of the way.
In the Sweet 16, Eaglecrest will have its first postseason meeting with Arvada West since way back in its championship-winning 2012-13 season when it prevailed in a second round contest.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
2025 CLASS 6A BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS (1ST ROUND)
(2) EAGLECREST 61, (34) ROCKY MOUNTAIN 53
Score by quarters:
Rocky Mtn. 6 18 16 13 — 53
Eaglecrest 14 14 14 19 — 61
ROCKY MOUNTAIN (53)
Avante Hood 5 2-4 12, Mateo Valencia 0 0-0 0, Ryan Van Alsburg 1 0-0 2, Peyton Matkin 6 0-0 15, Bode Nesbitt 2 0-0 5, Aiden McClelland 2 0-0 5, Daniel Mbadinga 4 4-4 12, Andre Johnson 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 6-8 53.
EAGLECREST (61)
Jason Noone 2 0-0 6, Anthony Nettles 7 6-8 23, Lucas Kalimba 2 1-2 5, Gavin Gallegos 0 0-0 0, Garrett Barger 4 1-2 9, Kris Coleman 4 0-0 10, La’Quince York 2 0-1 4, Demari Manns Davis 2 0-0 4. Totals 23 8-13 61.
3-point field goals — Rocky Mountain (5): Peyton Matkin 3, Aiden McClelland, Bode Nesbitt. Eaglecrest (7): Anthony Nettles 3, Kris Coleman 2, Jason Noone 2. Total fouls — Rocky Mountain 9, Eaglecrest 8. Fouled out — None. Technical fouls — Eaglecrest: Garrett Barger
