George Washington toughs out another tight one to make Final 4 (3/7/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

George Washington 52
Arapahoe 48

Hangin' around George this week has compelled a need for throat lozenges and a donut for my rump. 

Two days ago, the Patriots' Sweet 16 win over Gateway went to the wire. While waiting for tonight's game, I watched ThunderRidge upset top seed, Eaglecrest, in a nail-biter. And whad'ya know? The Great 8 finale at the Denver Coliseum again had me screaming and yelling on the edge of my seat like the lunatic dads in the stands behind me.

In a game that featured deliberate offense, disciplined defense, and plenty of so-called peripheral players stepping strong into the CET spotlight, two guards and "the trap" eventually earned the George Washington Patriots their 25th victory and a berth in the Class 5A boys basketball semifinals. 

Low-scoring game. As expected. The Warriors would be purposeful and deliberate about their business on both ends of the court. And I've become quite aware that the Patriots excel at grinding out wins in the 50s. Preferably, Arapahoe coach, DAN SYNDER, would've had both teams finish in the 40s. That nearly happened -- which is a big reason why the Warriors almost shocked another favorite. It did not look that way at the start of the game, though, as Arapahoe scored merely five points in the first quarter via 1-10 shooting from the field. Meanwhile, Patriots floor leader, TONY ADAMS, successfully accepted the challenge of a packed-in, zone D by draining a pair of three-pointers and another jumper to get George a lead that seemed more comfortable than it looked on the board. (The score was 11-5 at the end of the first period.) Adams scoring eight of George's initial eleven points was both a little hint and a big statement. The hint was that somebody besides G.W. scoring star, THOMAS BROPLEH, would have to beat Arapahoe. With Snyder's disciplined zone denying Bropleh the ball in the post and some dedicated defense from senior, DREW BABB, when they went to man defense, the Warriors held Bropleh without a field goal until the 1:18 mark in the second quarter. (He was allowed only five points the entire game.) The big statement: George would again prove they have a whole lotta somebody to step up when the rest of the gym is obsessed with their top scorer. 

Towards the end of the second quarter, Arapahoe shooters starting finding their touch. Sophomore, JAVON MOORE, tied the game at 21-21 with a lefty bomb from behind the arc. Quickly, somebody stepped up to answer for George Washington. Adams attacked the lane and found Bropleh for a lay-up. Then senior shooter, TYRELLE MILLARD, drilled a deep ball to take the Patriots into intermission leading by five. Arapahoe scored the first six points after the break, though. Another three-pointer from Moore put the Warriors up by one, 27-26, at 6:01 in the third. Again, the Patriots immediately responded. This time with an authoritative run featuring new-found success inside to senior big man, NOVIAN BALOUS... another timely three-ball from Adams... and a jaw-dropping, monster dunk-and-1 from sophomore, TYRONE MARSHALL, which put the Patriots up ten with just four minutes to play. Done deal? Not yet, Herb. Missed free throws by G.W. and a pair of three-point makes by junior, TIM BILLINGSLEY, pulled Arapahoe to within a point on two different occasions within the last sixty seconds of this game. I admit that I wondered, "... another Great 8 upset?"

Ah... remember? Two guards and "the trap." Millard and Adams scored enough to help earn the slim advantage while a late, defensive adjustment by Patriots coach, MICHAEL ROGERS, sealed the deal. In that final minute, Rogers employed a full-court trap we hadn't seen the whole game. Twice, Bropleh and Millard suffocated a ball-handler to force a turnover. Just like that. A little tweek... with "the trap." Now, George Washington gets a date in Boulder with top-ranked Fairview in the Final 4.             
  
 
Final: GWP 52 - AW 48... GWP (25-1, 7-1) Millard 14, Adams 11, Balous 8... AW (17-9, 9-5) Moore 16, Billingsley 14, Kocur 6.