Carlton Hurst guides Aurora Central to critical league victory over Rangeview in overtime  (01/13/12)

by MARTY CESARIO

Colorado High School Boys Basketball : Class 5A
Rangeview High School, Aurora, Colorado 
Friday, January 13, 2012

Ample talent. But fairly young. A lot of great moves. But a lot of misses, too. It started slow. But the pace and tension picked up in the end. It wasn't perfect. But I'd say I got the entertaining hoops fix satisfied for the evening.  

Despite their frustrations getting a ball to fall in the hole, the Raiders used great defense to spark a 14-0 run in the final quarter and earn their first lead of the game. Yet the Trojans rebounded after the sudden scare, hit consecutive 3-pointers to help force overtime, then outworked their opponents in the extra session -- primarily via the leadership of their all-state caliber junior, Carlton Hurst, who led all scorers with 25 points... 15 of those in the 4th quarter and overtime. In a critical game for both programs, Aurora Central escaped with a 64-61 victory over Rangeview.

A-Central controlled the pace -- which was deliberate -- and the edge on the scoreboard from the opening tip until that point halfway through the 4th quarter. A lot of that had to with Rangeview's struggles to get field goals. It wasn't like the Raiders were chuckin' bricks. They hustled for got plenty of good looks and interior shots, but balls just kept rolling off the rim. Rangeview did tie the game at 14-14 early in the 2nd when junior reserve, Tim Ealy, landed one from inside the paint. But A-Central  quickly retaliated with an off-balance top-of-the-key "3" from junior bomber, Tyler Stephenson. Hurst then made consecutive field goals -- inlcuding a 12-footer to end the 1st half with the Trojans up 23-20.

The Trojans built a double-digit cushion in the 3rd when junior Leonord Hurst sank a pair of 3-pointers and scored on a loose-ball lay-in followed by another deep shot from Stephenson. Aurora Central led 40-29 with a minute-or-so to play in the 3rd.

Then Rangeview put together their run in the 4th. And I loved how senior Gabe Solarin led the Raiders' charge back into contention and briefly ahead. During the week, Coach Shawn Palmer said his leading scorer was very dymanic and certainly his top shooter. Not tonight. The outside shot wasn't good for Solarin this evening. Instead of poutin' about it though, Solarin made plays in other ways -- just like a senior leader on an "off" night should do. During the Raiders' thrilling 14-0 awakening, Solarin hawked the ball defensively like a freak. He stole two straight and took 'em in for lay-ups. Picked another opponent then fed junior slasher Larry Bridges for a bucket and the Raiders' first lead of the game with five minutes to play in regulation. Solarin then splashed his only 3-pointer of the game. And he followed that make with another steal and sprint for a lay-up that put Rangeview ahead 53-45. It seemed like the deal was done. The home team came alive at the perfect time to finish it. The screaming folks in red at Rangeview High thought so. So did I. Until Stephenson and Carlton Hurst nailed consecutive 3-point shots followed by a pair of free throws to earn an overtime period.

Let me add that the final five seconds of regulation was exciting. Carlton's swat of a perimeter shot into the stands was impressive and timely. A-Central's defense then forced a desperate toss from beind the arc that didn't make it to the rim. But the Trojans who recovered the ball assumed the game was over and walked with it. The refs put a second on the clock. Rangeview lobbed the in-bounds pass up to the rim... a Raider elevated for a close-range attempt... the play appeared to be perfectly executed... until the ball didn't fall -- just like it had been doing most of the night.    

During my post-game interview, Coach Ian Calvert admitted he had the wrong guys handling the basketball during his team's sudden slide in the 4th quarter. And the main reason why Aurora Central prevailed in the overtime session was because he had the guy he trusts the most take back his responsiblity of running the offense. It was all Carlton Hurst during the O.T. -- in a good way. He was smooth and poised as he probed and drove for shorties or free throws. Carlton took his team home with a competitive "character" win.

That snapped Rangeview's 8-game win streak and placed Aurora Central in a great postion to make run for the East Metro League title. Prairie View is only other team without a league loss. Anything can happen, of course... but I think I just saw the two most talented teams in the East Metro. So if A-Central can take Prairie View on February 7th, the Trojans should be good to go with claiming that league championship.   


Aurora Central  (9-3, 3-0)                14   9  19  15   7      64                                 
Rangeview Raiders (10-4, 2-1)          9  11  15  22   4      61  
 
ACT: C. Hurst 25, L. Hurst 13, Stephenson 12  
RR: L. Bridges 15, Paige 14, Solarin 11 


Individual statistics, team stats, and clock stamps unofficial.
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