Trojans Topple Falcons, Advance To Final Four

DENVER—The Aurora Central Trojans continued their unlikely romp to the state’s final four. The fourth seeded Trojans knocked off third seeded Highlands Ranch 65-60 Friday afternoon in the first of four Great Eight games.

The game was back and forth throughout as both teams traded blows in an evenly matched game. It was decided in the last four minutes of the game.

The Trojans’ 6-foot-7-inch big man, DeSe Lee, who dominated the game with 23 points and eight rebounds, missed a pair of free throws with 3:40 left to play. Highlands Ranch guard Brett Olson capitalized by coming up with a loose ball and drawing a foul. After nailing both free throws, the Falcons took a 53-52 advantage.

But Aurora Central answered with a Shawn Banks floater, a defensive stop and layup by Lee to go up 56-53. Aurora Central stretched the lead to 61-55 after two free throws by Aubree Prickett.

Then things got a little hairy.

Olson missed a shot, but Ranch forward Fabian Sebastion, who finished with 13 points and eight rebounds, tipped in the miss. Marcus Byrd immediately stole Aurora Central’s inbounds pass and scored a layup. Another Ranch steal by Sebastian went for not, as Darryl Wright traveled after receiving the pass from Sebastian.

With under a minute left to play, Wright fouled Trojans freshman Carlton Hurst, who missed both free throws. But Lee came up with a huge rebound and passed it back to Hurst, who was fouled, and hit 1-for-2 free throws. But again, Aurora Central crashed the glass and Aubree Pricket came up with the board. Shawn Banks split his free throw attempts after getting fouled, and Aurora Central took a 63-60 lead.

“Those two rebounds were two of the biggest plays of the game,” said Trojans coach Ian Calvert.     

Olson missed a couple of contested three-pointers down the stretch and Trojans senior Darren Sanders buried two free throws to put the game away. A trip to the final four next week in Boulder awaits.

“I pulled the guys aside and I said we can be state champs,” Calvert said, “and I really believe that.”

Lee presented match-up problems throughout the game for the Falcons.  He had three huge dunks that seemed to lift his team when they needed it most. “If he’s not the best in the state, then he’s one of the best three or four,” Calvert said.

Lee credited his teammates and said crisp passing led to “a bunch of openings.”

Banks, who had 14 points on the night, said he loves playing with Lee. “He just steps up and brings it every night,” he said. “I’m glad to play with him—that’s like my big brother.”

Highlands Ranch’s strong season is finished, but overall, it was a solid year for the Falcons. Marcus Byrd led the Falcons with 20 points and eight rebounds, and Olson poured in 19 points and four assists in the loss.

Aurora Central will play Fairview in the Final Four on March 11 at the Coors Event Center.

Checkout the updated brackets.

Contact the writer at prossi@milehighhoops.com