Fairview. Best of all-time? CET squad on the Final 4 (3/11/09)

The Arbiter:     Would it be accurate to say the crowds at the Denver Coliseum were treated to many thrilling moments during the Great 8 Saturday? Collectively, you gentlemen witnessed all four of the Class 5A boys games. Care to share your reactions? 

Marty Cesario:     How's this sound? THUD. SPLASH. ROAR. I'm still visualizing Dave Arnold banking in that free throw with two seconds left. Wow! The ThunderRidge win over top seed, Eaglecrest, definitely produced the most exciting finish at our awesome old arena. We and the fans were going berzerk. Props to Coach Ortiz, his squad, and to Brian -- who sensed a deep Grizzlies run when the brackets came out. 

Brian Roth:     Yeah, I may have sensed a T-Ridge run, but I didn't see them beating a senior laden squad like Eaglecrest. Tough loss for coach Olander and the Raptors, who I know thought this was their year. The rest of the day.......GREAT! Crowds were fantastic and for some reason I just love the historic Denver Coliseum. 
 
My thoughts? After watching Fairview play again, I still think they are the team to beat. They move the ball so well, transition better than any team in the state, and are
just so deep. IF they win State, I think you have to put them in the "best of all time" argument. Certainly the best team since Palmer went undefeated back in
2000. Meanwhile, Regis showed they belong after beating East in a fast, physical game played with high intensity. Will Demps really makes them go and Joey Ptasinski is a kid I like better and better every time I watch him play. I like the Raiders and the Knights to meet up for the 3rd time this season in the State Championship game...... and I like Fairview to raise the Gold Ball.

Cory Lopez:     I remember that David Arnold kid - Big shot from some 30 feet at Lockeridge Arena in Golden last year. Yep that's the guy who ended Fairview's season. Not sure Arnold and the T'Ridge boys get another shot at Fairview but it sure was fun to watch one more time on March 7th at the Coliseum. Regis now has an open door to the finals... no offense to the Grizzlies. George Washington's back court (Tony Adams & Tyrelle Millard) needs to play like it did against Arapahoe, plus the big guy (Thomas Bropleh) needs to step up for the track meet that will be the Patriots and Knight's game. I put the over/under for Fairview/George at 150 points. Give me the over!!! And give me a Knight's win in Boulder on Championship Saturday, too.

The Arbiter:     Like Cory, your pre-tournament selection for champion is out. Marty, will you now be joining most others who feel Fairview will win the title?

Cesario:     Thanks for calling me out, Arbiter. I may deserve it, but it's in my nature to try to come up with an alternative scenario to our top-ranked, undefeated team rolling through an entire season unblemished and pretty much unchallenged. Gotta jump on the bandwagon now, though. And I'm gonna pay for my late arrival with a spot in the back, standing up, pinched between three Fairview fathers smirking at me. Honestly, I'm starting to wonder if any squad can finish within 20 points of these Knights... hasn't happened yet in this tournament. If they blast through the next two games the same way, we all may have to listen to Roth's "best-of-all-time" argument.