BOULDER — Over three seasons, Regis Jesuit boys basketball has been called many things. Polished as a newly simonized Ferrari. At times, nastier than a Colorado blizzard. Savvy, with two previous championships — both won in overtime.
And the Raiders of Aurora continue to be called winners.
Regis Jesuit edged Boulder 63-59 on Saturday night at the Coors Events Center in front of a record, near-capacity crowd for their third consecutive Class 5A boys championship. They fought off a gutsy Panthers crew before 11,443 fans who watched at least one of the 5A and 4A title games.
Before Regis Jesuit (23-5) tied Manual’s feat (accomplished in 1948, 1949 and 1950) to become the second program to win three straight among big schools, Sterling won the 4A game for its first title since 1984, when Regis Jesuit coach Ken Shaw led that team.
“We were aware of it. It hasn’t happened in 41 years,” said Shaw, who earlier this season coached his 600th victory. “But I have to credit Boulder. It didn’t go away.”
Boulder (25-3) was in it until the final seconds, just like George Washington was with the Raiders two seasons ago and Fairview in 2010.
However, Regis Jesuit hasn’t won 15 consecutive playoff games by chance. Its balance was there again. Tanner Samson (17 points), Michael Clark (15) and Drew Dyer and freshman Josh Perkins (12 each) headed the scoring.
The Raiders made eight of their first 16 3-point attempts. They were slightly outrebounded (30-29) and made only five of their first 11 free throws in the fourth quarter, yet still defended, moved the ball and rode their experience.
Clark, Dyer and Winters have been three-year regulars. Samson has two and wants another. “Those guys have been there. This is two for me and we’d like to keep it going,” said Samson, a junior.
Boulder offered no excuses. “Regis deserved to win,” Panthers coach Alan Schulz said. “They executed fantastically. They shot the 3 incredibly well. We talked about it before the game, defending their 3. It’s really easy to talk about it and draw it up on the board, but it’s really difficult to do.”
In front of University of Colorado men’s basketball coach Tad Boyle and athletic director Mike Bohn, who played on a Boulder team that won the championship in 1979, Regis Jesuit used a big second quarter, including five 3-pointers, to take a 32-21 halftime lead.
But Boulder, behind tournament MVP Riley Grabau’s 26 points, 20 after halftime, kept coming. Regis Jesuit needed a block by Dyer as well as a fullcourt heave on an inbounds play in the final seconds to seal it. Said Grabau: “The better team won tonight. We couldn’t get over that hump. They showed great composure and poise.”
Boulder shot only 37 percent and were 4-of-18 from 3-point range. The Raiders finished 10-of-21 as Shaw’s teams historically have been stellar from the perimeter.
And now, this group is stellar in state history. “Boulder gave us all we wanted,” Shaw said. “We had to show some composure there, but we found a way to hang on, found a way to get it done.”
Boulder 14 7 19 19 — 59
Regis Jesuit 13 19 15 16 — 63
Boulder — Rieder 3 4-4 11, Wilson 1 0-1 3, Baker 1 1-2 3, Grabau 7 10-12 26, Ban 6 4-5 16, Rothweiller 0 0-0 0, Krimstock 0 0-0 0, Kennedy 0 0-0 0, Zeren 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 19-24 59.
Regis Jesuit — Winters 1 2-2 4, Clark 4 4-7 15, Dyer 4 2-2 12, Samson 5 4-6 17, MacDonald 0 2-2 2, Perkins 4 2-4 12, Lesnansky 0 1-2 1, Smith 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 17-25 63.
3-point goals: Boulder — Grabau 2, Rieder, Wilson; Regis Jesuit — Clark 3, Samson 3, Dyer 2, Perkins, 2. Total fouls — Boulder 21, Regis Jesuit 19. Fouled out — Rieder. Technicals — None.
5A all-tournament
Michael Clark, Regis Jesuit, Sr.
Riley Grabau, Boulder, Sr.
Brett Olson, Highlands Ranch, Sr.
Tanner Samson, Regis Jesuit, Jr.
Ryan Winters, Regis Jesuit, Sr.
MVP: Riley Grabau
