Huge 2nd quarter and six 3-pointers from Samson get Regis comfy win over Fountain-Ft. Carson  (01/06/12)

by MARTY CESARIO

Colorado High School Boys Basketball : Class 5A
Regis Jesuit High School, Aurora, Colorado 
Friday, January 6, 2012

Success is going to come with a different look for the three-time defending champs this season. Backcourt play is going to have to dominate. And perimeter shooting is going to have to be sharp. Both happened tonight.

Ignited by three consective deep balls, Regis exploded in the 2nd quarter with 32 points to set this run into a comfortable glide for the home team. The Raiders nailed a total of twelve 3-pointers -- six by senior Tanner Samson, who scored all 18 of his points on the long balls. Senior Scott Dickey led all Raiders with 19 points. And top-shelf sophomore point guard, Josh Perkins, was courteous enough to make some stud plays before resting up a minor injury once the Raiders' runaway continued in the 2nd half. Regis began their second phase of the season with an 80-46 victory over Fountain-Ft. Carson. 

The visiting Trojans -- who haven't played a home game but have beaten two solid programs in Arapahoe and Broomfield -- started strong as their twin junior guards, Al Davis and Anthony Davis attacked with speed and control... and without fear of the champs. The Trojans moved ahead 11-8 late in the 1st quarter when senior, Brent Jackson, converted a kick-out into a "3" from the corner. For that short moment, I know I felt like we might have a pretty good game ahead of us.

Then Samson knocked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer. And then he hit two-in-row to open the 2nd quarter. Dickey followed those with a long-range make. The score read 21-13, Regis. Midway through the period, Samson landed another "3" before Perkins dropped in an acrobatic floater in the lane then converted the "and-one." Including Samson's shot that ended the 1st, the Raiders had put together a 21-2 run. The Trojans certainly didn't help themselves by going cold with their jump shots and missing opportunities created by good feeds from their guards. Probably the most demoralizing hint of "not tonight" for the Trojans was when the Raiders answered another Jackson 3-pointer with... ouch... another quarter-ending bomb -- this time by senior Ryan Garbrecht. Regis had outscored their opponents 32-8 in the 2nd quarter to take a 44-19 lead into the intermission.

Aside from jersey numbers on the floor, not much changed after that. 

Many -- including myself -- sense that a more-than-usual group of teams might look like championship contenders when we get to post-season play. Regis will be one of them. Although the Raiders might not be as big or as experienced as previous years, Coach Ken Shaw still has some special players that fit his very successful system.


Fountain-Ft. Carson (5-6, 0-0)      11   8  12  15    46                                  
Regis Raiders (7-3, 0-0)              12  32  22  14    80  
 
FFCT: Jackson 22, Al Davis 13, Tony Davis 7  
RJR: Dickey 19, Samson 18, Perkins 13 


Individual statistics, team stats, and clock stamps unofficial.
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