Both big school basketball squads go back-to-back! Sierra and Regis boys each win in overtime.  (03/13/10)

by MARTY CESARIO 

Spectacular! An awesome weekend of high school basketball ended with record attendance figures and a pair of not-soon-to-be-forgotten overtime games. Over 10,000 fans walked into the Coors Event Center at CU and witnessed all-stater Jahmall Fountain scoring ten consecutive points to lead a 15-0 run in the first quarter then reemerging to collect his team's first eight points in overtime as top seed Sierra won their second straight Class 4A by outlasting Pueblo East, 61-56. Later, the defending 5A champs, Regis, found themselves on the wrong end of a lopsided start, took three full quarters to even the score, then gave up a ten point lead in the final two minutes of regulation. In the overtime session, the shooting touch of senior Joey Ptasinski propelled the Raiders past a fierce Fairview squad that was loudly backed by the Boulder locals. The 68-58 victory earned Regis their second consecutive championship.   Click for the rest of the story....

Broomfield girls earn record 4th straight hoops title! Denver East ladies become 2nd D.P.L. squad to win it all!  (03/12/10)

by MARTY CESARIO 

There was tension 'til the end. And unique recognition upon completion. Both girls basketball titles weren't yet claimed with less than ninety seconds to play. But the weight of folklore eventually made impact and compelled CHSAA officials to start editing their history books. In the 4A game, Broomfield traded leads with Longmont for thirty minutes before a stronger stretch to the finish earned the Eagles a 55-47 victory and a record fourth consecutive title. The 5A game was equally exciting. Legacy enjoyed strong efforts from their post players, but Denver East wore their opponents down with depth in the lane and quickness in the backcourt. The Angels sealed their spot in Colorado basketball folklore with a lengthy defensive hold and a steal with :25 on the clock. 50-46... East girls are champs! And only the second Denver Prep League squad -- ever -- to capture the crown in ladies hoops.   Click for the rest of the story....

Gregory goes to the hole in OT to get Pueblo East to the Final Four  (03/05/10)

by MARTY CESARIO

This one started late, went an extra period, and wasn't finished until 10:30pm. Few fans were bothered by that. The finale of the Great 8 games held on the School of Mines campus in Golden was a tense run 'til the end. Leads were swapped regularly. No lead grew larger than five. Pueblo East tied it with 20 seconds left in regulation. Then Broomfield had two shots within ten feet to win it. Neither shot fell. Then junior Jordan Gregory dominated the overtime period by scoring ten consecutive points to lead Pueblo East to a 68-63 victory earning them a berth in Class 4A's Final Four.   Click for the rest of the story....

Lunch Pail Kids: Boys Basketball 2009/2010  (03/04/10)

by MARTY CESARIO

Before another hoops season passes through my memory banks, I'd like to once again give love to a group of uniquely driven athletes who fit the characterization I call, Lunch Pail Kids. You may or may not recall my criteria to make this special list. I'm talkin' 'bout the work horses, the spark plugs, and the hustle players. Blue-chippers they are not. Highlights and headlines they do not get. These are the blue-collar types who do the dirty deeds......
Click for the rest of the story....

Rangers did it again! Lewis-Palmer captures hockey title in overtime!  (02/27/10)

by MARTY CESARIO

The last one was thrilling, but this one was... if not legendary, epic, heroic... it was as close as a sporting event can get. Might even be able to get slick and call it... Monumental?! A mere fifteen hours after Kyle Lachner's rebound completed their comeback in overtime in the semifinals, the Rangers repeated the feat with another cardiac clincher as Kyle Lee put one through a pile of players and past the goaltender. Lewis-Palmer has won Colorado's hockey championship with a 3-2 overtime victory over a stunned but undeniably great Ralston Valley club.   Click for the rest of the story....

Hockey's Frozen Four: Ralston Valley shuts out the champs. Lewis-Palmer rallies for win in OT.  (02/26/10)

by MARTY CESARIO

Same four as the season before but with a pairing shuffle and a different venue. High School hockey's Frozen Four moved to the 1st Bank Center in Broomfield this season and while all four clubs were repeat entries, this time the semifinals would call for the two Denver Metro teams to do battle and the pair from El Paso County to play each other. Game one remained scoreless for 35 minutes until the 4 seed, Ralston Valley, scored three times in the final period to knock off the top seed and two-time defending champion, Regis. And #6 Lewis-Palmer persisted through an early two goal deficit in the nightcap to beat 11th-seeded, Cheyenne Mountain, with a 3-2 overtime victory.
Click for the rest of the story....

'Ranch then the rest? CET crew discusses the Class 5A girls basketball playoffs. (02/23/10)

The Arbiter:   Ms. Mauro. Gentlemen. Here we are again. Please share your enthusiasm and insight regarding this season's Class 5A girls basketball tournament. At first glance at the brackets, is there anything that excites you? Surprises you? Confuses you?

Mary Kay Mauro:   Excites? The fact there seems to be a little more parity in the 5A ranks this year. As dominant as the Continental League is and has been for over a decade, there are some teams from the Front Range, Southwestern (on the Western Slope) and Colorado Springs who are chomping at the bit to take their shot at the best of the Continental.   Click for the rest of the story....

The Class 5A boys hoops playoffs... what the CET guys are thinkin'  (02/22/10)

The Arbiter:   Guys, you have spent another winter inside gymnasiums up and down the Front Range. Very few people can claim to know more about Class 5A boys basketball than you. So please... your thoughts about the playoff brackets for this season. Which region looks like it might be the most fun to track?  

Brian Roth:   I think the toughest region is the Glenn Wilson region with four teams having a legit chance to make a run to Boulder.   Click for the rest of the story....

'Collins sweeps doubleheader with Rocky but a Lobo leaves the lasting impression of a lifetime  (02/16/10)

by MARTY CESARIO

Pardon me while I itemize as I write. The 5th-ranked boys team in 5A showed they have the talent to make it to the Coliseum and beyond. A 5'3" girl went big from behind the arc with WNBA range. That red-headed dude off the bench was the most pesky, pain-in-the-butt, defender I've seen all season. We were pressed up against the back wall with two tubas in our faces. There was a baby powder prank that dictated the rhythm of an entire basketball game. And an already insane atmosphere became a volcanic love fest as a cancer survivor with a smile that melts all worries dropped a 3-ball to finish off a wild evening at Rocky Mountain High.   Click for the rest of the story....

#3 Montbello beats East with Isiah Cooper's buzzer-beater  (02/13/10)

by MARTY CESARIO

For anybody jonezin' for a great basketball match-up, this one was a must. Colorado's most decorated program in the last 15 years against the 3rd-ranked squad in Class 5A. The legend that is Coach Rudy Carey versus his son. East on a seven game win streak. Montbello at 18-2. Both crews unblemished in Denver Prep League play. Drum corps bangin.' Cheerleaders flippin' out. Fans fillin' up and spilling into every corner for the opener of a double-header at the Thunderdome.

And, man, the players treated us to a great show!!!   Click for the rest of the story....

#7 Lincoln overcomes South as Williams blows up for 36  (02/12/10)

by MARTY CESARIO

I've seen Lincoln play twice in the last seven days. Usually a repeat look at a squad doesn't occur so quickly. Gotta spread the love around, ya know? But, without busting out the incense and my Jordan doll, I think the hoops gods were influencing the itinerary in order for me and my CET buddies to further strengthen our feelings about Lancers junior, Dominic Williams. Dude is on fire!!! And it seems he hasn't peaked either.   Click for the rest of the story....

#6 Arapahoe survives scare by Eaglecrest with 2nd half comeback  (02/10/10)

by MARTY CESARIO

Coach Dan Snyder told us in his office he had not forgotten what happened at Eaglecrest High less than a month ago-- a 35-27 poor-shooting, defense-dominated struggle to victory. And even though his 6th-ranked Warriors were on their own floor tonight, he was not going to accept any assumptions about what his heavily-favored squad would do to the Raptors in the rematch. Good call by Coach to embrace caution. Whatever the reason-- league play, match-ups, polarity in records-- there's something about Eaglecrest that makes the Warriors go "clang" and have to work hard for a win.   Click for the rest of the story....

Dominic Williams drops 30 and drives #7 Lincoln past T.J.  (02/05/10)

by MARTY CESARIO

Friday night here on Federal. The gym is dim. The fans are jacked. Denver Prep League hoops happenin!' The home team, Lincoln, is currently ranked 7th in our latest CET Sports poll. Thomas Jefferson is ranked in the top three of any Class 4A list that matters. This... is... serious.  

Most of the kids played well. All of them played hard. Two of them excelled. T.J.'s Billy Sprague battled for 25 points, but it was Dominic Williams' 30 point showcase -- including 11 of his team's final 12 -- that shined brightest as the Lancers solved the Spartans, 70-66.   Click for the rest of the story....

D'Evelyn outscores fierce rival, Golden, to stay on top of Jeffco 4A  (01/29/10)

by MARTY CESARIO

Once again, the annual D'Evelyn-Golden double bill was one seriously rockin' evening of roundball. The girls extended the opener into overtime with D'Evelyn finally winning after giving up a 16 point lead. And that intensity fed right into the fierce competition the guys showcased in the nightcap.

A colorful and pumped-up crowd at Golden High watched the Demons jump ahead on their home court with an early 10 point lead, but the Jaguars blew up the nets with 12 three-pointers -- four each from senior Mark Neely and freshman Luke Stratman -- while senior Alex Bervik piled up points in every way possible as D'Evelyn outscored their Jeffco rivals, 86-79, to stay on top of the league standings.   Click for the rest of the story....

Poudre travels to Thornton... goes home with a Front Range win  (01/26/10)

by MARTY CESARIO

Front Range League squads have to do a lot of travelling. So if ya make the trip, make it worth it, right? Get the payoff. Win! It'll make that bus ride so much better. 

The Poudre Impalas came down to Thornton High and scored themselves a nice victory to take back up to Fort Fun. Senior shooter, Trevor Fischer, helped his offense start fast and develop a 15 point lead by halftime before surviving a strong rush by the Trojans in the third quarter. Fischer led all scorers with 19 points as Poudre beat Thornton, 58-50.   Click for the rest of the story....

Dakota Ridge banks a big rivalry win over #8 Chatfield  (01/22/10)

by MARTY CESARIO

The Chargers have the been the squad positioned in our Top 10 throughout the season. The Eagles, though, had been on my radar. The Dakota hoopers had 11 wins!  But considering Jeffco isn't believed to be strong this season, Dakota's date with neighborhood rival, Chatfield, was the chance to validate that nice record.

Done. Nailed it.

In a tightly contested game at Dakota Rige High, the Eagles pestered their bigger opponents with pesky defense while senior Brandon Wilson's three-point shooting and clutch makes at the free throw line helped his squad take the lead and finish with a 20-9 run in the last seven minutes as Dakota Ridge upset 8th-ranked Chatfield, 51-42. 
Click for the rest of the story....

Deep balls and defense give #5 Arapahoe the win at Mullen  (01/20/10)

by MARTY CESARIO

You want fireworks? Talk to your nutty uncle on the 4th of July. 

You want discipline, defense, and a "W?" You should seek consultation from Coach Dan Snyder and a demonstration by his Warriors basketball squad.  

At Hutchinson Field House on the Mullen High campus, 5th-ranked Arapahoe held the home team to single-digit scoring in three of four quarters while senior shooter, Tim Billingsley patiently waited then popped four three-pointers to lead the Warriors past the Mustangs, 47-27.   Click for the rest of the story....

Mountain Range shuts down Loveland in Front Range opener  (01/15/10)

by MARTY CESARIO

Up to 124th and Huron, we watched league play get underway for two top-tier teams in the Front Range. Good defense and great guard play gave the visiting Loveland squad what seemed to be a comfortable sense of control into the halftime break. Man, what a power shift in the second half, though! Juniors Mitch Castillo and Edgar Crockett found ways to score with creativity and hustle while Coach Jim Mason made all the right moves with his defensive adjustments. Mountain Range outscored their opponents 41-19 in the final two quarters -- finishing with a 15-2 run -- as the Mustangs overcame the Indians, 62-48.    Click for the rest of the story....

Denver Christian presses Manual... gets 7th straight win.   (01/09/10)

by MARTY CESARIO

A visit to the Thunderdome on a Saturday afternoon to chase down a couple of the most intriguing programs in Colorado basketball. Denver Christian has won seven state titles in 46 seasons under Coach Dick Katte and they've started well again this season. The Manual team, on the other hand, has no seniors, a new coach, and a school reborn from extinction just a couple years ago. So the expectations... they were eventually realized. But the Manual kids did earn some respect. The Thunderbolts outscored the Crusaders in the first and third quarters! In the other two periods, senior point guard, Taylor Smith, scored at will and fired up a nasty press as Denver Christian cruised home with an 80-54 victory.    Click for the rest of the story....

Aurora Central bursts ahead then survives free throw fest against Cherokee Trail (01/04/10)

by MARTY CESARIO

Beyond that headline, a few more notable items could be mentioned about this Monday night run at Aurora Central High. Two crews with well-conditioned athletes showed us intense defensive pressure on ball-handlers, sky-high blocks around the basket, quick end-to-end sprints for lay-ups, and some timely three-point shooting. But to break it down briefly: A.C. opened up a big lead with a second quarter explosion then outlasted Cherokee Trail in a second half full of fouls and free throws. There ya go. Trojans over the Cougars, 80-72.    Click for the rest of the story....

Denver East starts "phase two" of hoops with win over ThunderRidge  (01/02/10)

by MARTY CESARIO

New year. Intermission over. Back to your seats. The second act or "phase two" of the high school hoops season has begun.

On a Saturday afternoon following New Year's Day, the Denver East basketball crew drove down to ThunderRidge High and their seniors helped hustle their way out with a nice victory. Phillip Watts scored from all over the floor, Alex Merriex was as sharp as usual with his jumpers, and Chance Moore was stellar as a passer from the top and a defender in the open space. Angels over the Grizzlies, 67-51.    Click for the rest of the story....

Gritty Horizon squad grabs first lead late... edges Hinkley  (12/08/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

Hoops! It's On! And we were treated to a good game. We began our basketball season at Hinkey High in Aurora where the Horizon Hawks and home-court Thunderbirds attacked each other the whole 32 minutes. The Hawks, never within less than three points most of the game, finally jumped ahead late in the final quarter and survived an open shot at the buzzer to beat the T-Birds, 59-57.    Click for the rest of the story....

Heritage wins 4A football title! Mullen goes back-to-back in 5A!  (12/5/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

Quite a day at the big stadium! Four high school communities and a whole bunch of media folk enjoyed a little bit of everything and a whole lotta fun. In the opener at Invesco Field at Mile High, the two 4A teams exploded for 56 first half points before MITCH GRIEBEL's five TDs (three run, two pass) and a well-adjusted defense helped the Eagles break away from Longmont for a 42-28 victory and a first-ever football championship for Heritage. Later, the underdog delivered shocking early punches in the 5A finale as Big Black jumped on the Juggernauts for a 16-0 lead. Top seed, Mullen, scored the next 27 points, though, and then survived another late rally to collect their second straight title with a 27-24 win over Pomona.    Click for the rest of the story....

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Mustangs will play for another title! Top-seeded Mullen eliminates #5 Arvada West.  (11/28/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

Not often against an undefeated and undisputed title favorite does a team get those "moments." I'm talking about those points in time when the football gods dangle opportunities to bring down The Beast. Today, Arvada West was awarded a handful of those "moments."    Click for the rest of the story....

Another late revival lifts #7 Wheat Ridge past #2 Greeley West  (11/21/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

Personally, I was over it. No disrespect intended. I totally dig Coach REID KAHL. And I respect the old schools -- including Wheat Ridge. But I was creatively bored with the unending mentions of Parker Orms and the classic win over Greeley West in last season's title game. Hype. Hoopla. Fanfare. Rematch. Got it.

Then I watched the Farmers score twenty points in the final 13 minutes with a back-up quarterback finishing the game-winning score with less than seventy seconds to play. Now I'm thinking...    Click for the rest of the story....

4th quarter surge sends #3 Pomona to 5A semifinals  (11/20/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

Patience. Have some! That and an unwavering commitment to your game plan.

Despite being down 18 points late in the second quarter, Coach JAY MADDEN remained firm about two things: He was going to trust his defense and he was going to keep running his tailback between the tackles. Stubborn? Whatever. Smart? No doubt! The nasty Pomona "D" shut out #22 Bear Creek in the second half and TYLER PACE eventually popped through for big gains. The third-seeded Panthers rallied with four touchdowns in the fourth quarter to advance to the Class 5A semifinals for the first time in Madden's seven year tenure at Pomona High. Final: 43-25.    Click for the rest of the story....

Big plays beat the Big Guy. Fairview holds off Grandview in 5A second round.  (11/13/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

Mother Nature made her presence felt, but that didn't stop the creativity and productivity of the offenses tonight. Neither a fresh blanket of sticky, wet snow nor a pair of well-respected defenses could stop Fairview and Grandview from gaining more than 700 yards combined and totaling 61 points on the scoreboard. In a very entertaining playoff game at Legacy Stadium, the Knights exploded to a big lead then survived the Wolves' powerful comeback. Final 35-26. Fairview remains undefeated and has advanced to the Class 5A quarterfinals.    Click for the rest of the story....

Football playoffs are here! The CET dudes discuss what's up with 4A and 5A. (11/10/09)

The Arbiter:   With the final week of the 4A regular season concluded, we can now exclusively talk playoff football. We will get to Class 4A later. First, please discuss 5A -- which offered some intriguing results after the first round of postseason games. Your reactions to what happened and who is left in Class 5A?
 
Brian Roth:   I know a lot of people think that 32 teams is too many when it comes to the 5A playoffs and that there should only be 16 playoffs teams -- like 4A and 3A. However, that argument loses some credibility after seeing how many upsets there were in the first round.    Click for the rest of the story....

Last-minute score lifts Rock Canyon over #9 Pueblo West (11/6/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

A tale of two squads bringing the same resume with different presentations. Both Pikes Peak League crews had two losses -- each of those to regulars in our CET Top 10 poll. And both teams were well aware the winner would earn a wildcard slot in the playoff brackets while the other would need some help to get in. The image of each program is entirely different, though. The Cyclones are an intensely-coached, blue-collar group known for tough defense and an almost exclusively run-oriented offense. The Jaguars, on the other hand, they play "backyard football" as their coach, TOM LYNCH, describes it.    Click for the rest of the story....

A pair of bombs and a stop at the 2 get the "W" for West over North (10/31/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

The theme for this one was, "It's all about the 'W!'"

West got it. North will have to wait.

On a Saturday morning with an early kick at 10 a.m., each of these old city rivals were searching for their first victory of 2009. Both defenses channeled that hunger into  impressive levels of effectiveness. And a pair of cousins connected twice to take the prize!   Click for the rest of the story....

Overland plows through Eaglecrest in regular season finale (10/30/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

Fall break. Limited practice time. Four foot high piles of snow on the sidelines. Lots of mistakes for both squads. Although the Trailblazers were equal partners with pre-game challenges and in-game miscues, they also ran for 312 yards, scored three touchdowns via their passing game, and defended extremely well. On a late afternoon  when Legacy Stadium looked more like the terrain park at Copper, Overland dominated Eaglecrest, 48-14, to gain their fifth win on the final Friday of the Class 5A regular season.   Click for the rest of the story....

D-Line shines for top-ranked Mullen in win over Mountain Vista (10/23/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

I've been saying it every week and will continue to do so. Push aside your natural inclination to gaze at the killer power back, the gifted wide-out, and that productive offense. Watch the defensive lineman. They are the primary reason why Mullen remains undefeated, barely challenged, and always the only consideration for the top spot in our CET Sports Top 10 poll.   Click for the rest of the story....

Chaparral rallies from two down to beat undefeated Ponderosa (10/21/09)       

by MARTY CESARIO

There was little need for us to embellish, hype, spin, or explain it. This was a Big One! The regular season, volleyball finale for a pair of Parker rivals. One squad loaded with big hitters -- the preseason favorite to win the state title. The other team precisely rooted with discipline and defense -- the only undefeated group in Class 5A. "It'll be high drama from the get-go," warned Chaparral coach, T.R. ELLIS. Now ain't that the truth!   Click for the rest of the story....

Rocky Mountain runs ahead early then halts late Poudre rally (10/17/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

You know the drill? Same town. City rivals. That trumps the reality that a squad with a chance to be a top-half playoff seed was playing a team with just one victory. And that's how it played out on a warm, Fall midday at French Field in Fort Collins. BRODE MCDONALD and BRADEN NELSON ran Rocky Mountain to a 17 point lead while DAVID JOHNSON and the Lobos defense locked down the Impalas ground game and picked off a threatening passing game in the 4th quarter to win 24-21.    Click for the rest of the story....

South edges East again to win 13th straight Cannon Game in Pueblo (10/16/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

Two schools erected in the same year with the same floor plan were meeting on the turf for the 51st time. That's impressive heritage for a football rivalry, yet the squad from the South side has dominated their rivals from East for more than a decade now. Rumors are being whispered around the Pueblo community that the series may be discontinued. Maybe those doing the whispering should be paying attention to what's been happening with the East program lately and to the action on the field these last two years.    Click for the rest of the story....

Ralston Valley still unbeaten in 5A Jeffco after sweep of Green Mountain (10/14/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

Mental lapses and poor passing aren't deficiencies one expects from a talented volleyball squad that's lost only two matches -- especially against a team with zero seniors and only one victory. I can say that because I know Ralston Valley coach, LISA NELSON, agrees -- that being validated as I waited fifteen minutes for Nelson to "communicate" with her girls after the Mustangs just finished sweeping Green Mountain in three.

I can say this, too. Ralston Valley is stacked and dangerous!   Click for the rest of the story....

Xtra Credit: Genevieve Duran - Gateway (10/14/09)

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#4 Monarch grinds through Ralston Valley (10/9/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

A bunch of ball hogs. That's what they were. Like in so many other games in this millenium, the Coyotes'  unwillingness to share is what helped them succeed......  Click for the rest of the story....

Wheat Ridge still rolling in Jeffco... beat D'Evelyn in four. (10/7/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

Somebody's got a chip on her shoudler. Or maybe it's a tiny, little Farmer wearing a blue jersey and black volleyball shorts. Trust me, she is definitely no Tinkerbell-like pixie tagging along from gym to gym....... Click for the rest of the story....

Mountain Vista falls behind then runs away from Douglas County (10/03/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

Big plays had been a bad problem for Coach RIC CASH's Golden Eagles. So it wasn't hard to visualize Cash's reaction when a punt block for a safety led to a easy touchdown drive and two-point conversion after the free kick. "Really? Again?" And so early, too. Only three minutes gone and down ten points. 'Vista fans were very quiet......  Click for the rest of the story....

Fast start. Strong finish. Pueblo Central takes another tight Bell Game. (10/02/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

"Ready to go! For the 109th time... "

"Hold on, here comes number seven! And there he goes! Touchdown!!!"

Clearly, BYRAM BROWN, was ready. Just that suddenly, the Central senior shocked the five-figure crowd from the sense of pre-game pageantry that comes with a rivalry cherished for more than a century..... Click for the rest of the story....

#3 Pine Creek expands elite status...  convincing over #7 Fountain-Fort Carson. (9/26/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

Who didn't show up for this one? Two Class 4A titans, listed at #3 and #7 in our poll, buttin' helmets on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. Parents, students, and faculty nearly filled both sides of District 20 Stadium in the Springs. And we were clearly not the only media occupying the press box and roaming the field. A perfect atmosphere... until those darned Eagles deflated the hype and demolished their league rivals......  Click for the rest of the story....

Arvada West toughs it out to "boot" Regis. (9/25/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

Those red Raiders sure laid some Big 8 on the Wildcats. Some might say Regis shocked 'em. If anything, one could conservatively say they got Arvada West's attention.

On Homecoming night at Regis Jesuit High School, the hard-nosed home squad jumped to an early lead on the favored A-West crew with brutal defense and a tailback that was unstoppable. But an injury, some big plays, a blue-chip boot, and the ability to adjust to a more physical style kept the 7th-ranked Wildcats unbeaten......... 
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Chatfield completes 24 hour thrill ride with sweep over Dakota Ridge (9/23/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

Somewhere underneath the hogbacks at Ken-Caryl and 470, a crew of volleyball players must be passed out in a deep sleep... exhausted... but grinning. Merely twenty-four hours ago, they commuted to Colorado Springs and collected retribution in thrilling fashion -- down two games then all the way back over a Rampart squad that just beat them ten days ago. Tonight, they carried and converted that emotion into a sweep of their "dearest" rivals and elevated themselves into elite status among Jeffco squads and maybe all of Class 5A......... Click here for the rest of the story....

Hinkley rises at the right time. Beats Thornton on Homecoming. (9/19/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

Hello, Hinkley! The Thunderbirds are now a "Go!"

Whatever happened with the previously winless Hinkley squad in their first two games is now meaningless. They just proved, with perfect timing, that they can groove when they have the ball and dominate when they don't. Fueled by a.......   Click here for the rest of the story....

2nd quarter burst propels Lincoln past North (9/18/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

Give some credit to the Vikings. They held 'em down for a bit... then the Lancers blew up the scoreboard! Thirty-three points scored in twelve minutes with the rest of the night spent celebrating Homecoming........   Click here for the rest of the story....

The scoring line says it was a sweep. Blow that off! This was no easy walk. The vibe in the stands was often intense. The gym at Thomas Jefferson High was warm and muggy. Our players-of-the-match were glistening with hard-earned sweat. There was plenty of proof the winners had to work for it -- including the smiles of pride on the faces of Gateway seniors, AMANDA GIESEKE and KIRA DESPAIN, and their coach, KARA KLOBERDANZ......     Click here for the rest of the story....

Sophomore slot helps Highlands Ranch slide by Rampart (9/12/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

You can't game plan Mama Nature. A soggy reality endured by everyone at District 20 Stadium on this night. 

We tried to steer our broadcast from crutching on the effects of the weather, but it became unavoidable. Hard. Cold. Blowing. Rain!!! The whole football game. Before, during, and after. Coach Darrel Gorham said they were the worst conditions he'd ever suffered...    Click here for the rest of the story....

Service run and strong finishes sweep Falcons past A-West (9/09/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

The visitors were inexperienced but strong with team chemistry. The favored home squad was tenured but hobbled with injuries. Could the eager Wildcats upset the wobbly Falcons? Not tonight. Though Arvada West did bring some battle to the gym.      Click here for the rest of the story....

Eaglecrest survives crazy finish with Arapahoe (9/5/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

While he clutched his sport bottle that may or may not have contained electrolytes and ibuprofen, the mentally exhausted Eaglecrest coach described it succinctly and perfectly, "That was one helluva football game!" Got that right! TOM DOHERTY and his Raptors just survived and won an "ole skool" style war with new Centennial rival, Arapahoe. Cue up the cliche. Both squads "left it all out there" in a game that featured so much of why football fans show up:     Click here for the rest of the story....

Gaumer's Variety Show leads Littleton over George (8/28/09)

by MARTY CESARIO

As you've read and seen in our season previews, the CET Sports squad is looking for Coach CHAD KOEPKE's Littleton team to push a little further up the hill towards elite status in Class 4A this season. Lots of tools remain from last year's crew that went 8-3 -- including multiple three-year starters on the Lions' defense and the usual supply of weaponry on an offense that scored 50 points per game in 2008. But some big adjustments have also occurred within the Littleton program. Will those changes balance with the continuity to inspire the special season the Lions have been seeking in recent years? We got a glimpse on this night at All-City Field.   Click here for the rest of the story....

Click to read archived blog entries from the 2008-2009 Colorado High School fall, winter and spring seasons.