Overland Comes Out Hot, Advances Over Liberty

C.J. Wilson goes up for a layup in Overland's first round 81-48 victory over Liberty Tuesday night.

Photo by Michael Furman, Mile High Hoops

AURORA—The seventh seeded Overland Trailblazers (14-10) charged out to a 30-7 first quarter advantage over the tenth seeded Liberty Lancers (10-14) en route to a 81-48 state tournament first round victory Tuesday night at home.

Overland demonstrated its athleticism early and often. On one of many outstanding first quarter plays, Brandon Benning dove head first into the first row to save a loose ball. Benning’s outstretched hand got the ball to point guard Aaron Marshall who calmly drained a three-pointer.

The Trailblazers forced the Lancers into turnover after turnover with a ball hawking, pesky defense in the first frame.

“We wanted to speed the game up a little bit and make them play a little faster than they’re used to playing, and I thought we did a good job of that in the first quarter,” said Overland coach Ron Garcia y Ortiz.

In the second quarter, Overland’s offense slowed down significantly and only put up 10 points. But its stingy defense remained a constant. Lancers senior guard and two time all-state selection, Wes McKenzie, was held to just four points in the first half and zero in the second quarter. McKenzie came in averaging nearly 26 points per game, but was held to just 11 against Overland.

“He’s one of the best guards in Colorado,” said Marshall of McKenzie. “But we’ve played guards like him, and we used the same strategy on him as we did on them and it worked.”

So, what was the strategy? “We really just said ‘don’t leave him, don’t give him space,’” Marshall said.

Marshall was one of 11 different Trailblazers to score on the night. He scored 12 in the first half, and finished with 14. Other significant contributors for Overland were Jai Bransford (14 points), C.J. Wilson (12) and Benning (8).  The Trailblazers depth clearly wore down the Lancers.

“We try to run our guys in waves a little bit,” Garcia y Ortiz said about utilizing his team’s deep bench.

The third quarter was won by Liberty, 19-18. But the lead was still 58-35 heading into the final period. And in the fourth quarter, any thought Liberty would pull off the unthinkable was quickly put to rest when Marshall threw a deep lob to Bransford who finished with a powerful two-handed dunk.

“I saw the opening early,” Bransford said. “I was just waiting for my point guard (Marshall) to throw it, and he sees the floor really well so we were able to get that one down.”

That dunk sent the crowd into a frenzy, and Overland cruised the rest of the game.

Liberty was led by T.J. Holt who scored 20 points and drilled five three-pointers. Holt scored his team's first eight points in the third quarter.

McKenzie’s 11 points were the last points he’ll score in what was an extraordinary prep career. McKenzie said he'd miss the camaraderie with his teammates the most. “I’m going to miss spending time with my team and traveling—the simple things,” he said. “ I’ve become so close with my buds.”

But McKenzie’s talents are sure to be on display at the next level. Several Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference schools are interested in him. Arizona State has also recently expressed interest, McKenzie said.

For Overland, a Friday night second round date with fourth seeded Aurora Central awaits. Garcia y Ortiz said his team can’t simply rely on superior athleticism because Aurora Central is equal in that department. “(Aurora Central) creates a lot of matchup issues,” he said. “We’re going to have to play smarter than them, and play good fundamental basketball.”

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Contact the writer at prossi@milehighhoops.com