The Cherokee Trail boys basketball team finished off a game it probably would have let slip last season with a 67-54 upset of Denver East on Dec. 9.
Behind 19 points from junior David Thornton — 11 in the fourth quarter — 14 from junior Ronnie Barfield, 10 from senior Drequez Harvey and nine from sophomore Jaizec Lottie, the Cougars led from start to finish as they dealt the defending Class 5A state champion Angels their first loss from a Colorado team since the 2012-13 5A state title game against Eaglecrest.
Cherokee Trail improved to 2-2 on the season following a 1-2 performance at the Chaparral/ThunderRidge Tip Off Classic, which netted coach Morgan Gregory’s team fourth place.
• Jack Johnson scored two goals, including the game-winner in the third period as the Regis Jesuit ice hockey team improved to 2-0 with a 4-3 victory over Air Academy on Dec. 8 at Sertich Ice Arena. Connor Brennan assisted on all four goals, including the other two by Jack Kilkenny and Cale Woodley for the Raiders, who beat Heritage 5-3 in their opener.
• The Hinkley wrestling team took hope the championship at the Mike Stanley Invitational on Dec. 6 at Fairview High School, as the Thunderbirds scored 139.5 points to hold off Widefield (133), while Overland and Gateway finished 9th and 10th in the 19-team tournament. Sophomore Serj Chavez won the 145-pound championship with a first-period pin, while teammates Ben Rhoton (106) and Gideon Greer (126) lost in finals matches, as did Gateway’s Jeru Smith at 138 pounds.
•Grandview finished second and Smoky Hill sixth in the Fort Lupton Invitational wrestling tournament Dec. 6. Grandview junior 126-pounder Xavier Cardenas and junior 220-pounder Josh Vigil won championships for Aurora wrestlers, while teammates Seth Brown (145) and Tyler Ross (170) also made the finals, as did Smoky Hill 120-pounder Calvin Nguyen and Carlos Zerna at 220.
•Blake Yount recorded a hat trick and dished out an assist and seven other players scored as the Cherry Creek co-0p ice hockey team steamrolled Summit 10-0 Dec. 6 in the Bruins’ season opener.
• The Aurora Central boys basketball team finished 3-0 to grab a share of the championship of the round robin Warrior Invitational Dec. 4-6 at Grand Junction Central High School. The Trojans downed the host Warriors, plus Palisade and Fruita Monument to finish unbeaten along with Grand Junction. Junior guard Ladarius Thomas was selected tournament MVP.
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
