DENVER – When Coal Ridge junior Diego Gamez nabbed a late steal and went uncontested for a layup to all but wrap up his school’s first-ever Class 4A boys basketball Final 4 appearance, he couldn’t even let himself smile.

At least not yet.

He was all smiles when the final buzzer sounded, giving the Titans a 44-39 win over Timnath and a trip to Friday’s state semifinals.

“Coach [Paul Harvey] always says keep it professional,” Gamez said. “Don’t rub salt in the wound.”

He wasn’t rubbing salt in anything by adding another basket to ensure Coal Ridge’s win. But the moment showed that he was all business from the opening tip until the clock read 0:00.

No one needs to remember these Titans. They have to learn about these Titans.

“We’re a small little valley school three hours away from Denver,” Gamez said. “You’ve never heard of us. Now we’re here.”

Gamez scored a team-high 13 points while Ethan Sanchez had 11 and Ben Simons had 8.

That was only half the battle. The Titans had to slow down Cubs forward Max Roselle from dominating in the post. He scored a game-high 17, but was limited to just seven shot attempts all game. That was good enough for Coal Ridge to hold on.

The Titans didn’t bring the biggest crown to the early Great 8 session at the Denver Coliseum, but it may have been the loudest. A vocal fanbase in full support of its team is what the state basketball tournament should be about on the final weekend of the year.

And the Titans felt it from the get go.

“They came out here, a three or four-hour drive to support us in a Great 8 game,” Gamez said. “Man, it’s amazing. It definitely gets us pumped up.”

That intensity and energy has been crucial to the Titans’ run through the postseason. And that run will continue on Friday when they become the first players wearing a Coal Ridge jersey to compete in the boys basketball state semifinals.

(10) Colorado Academy 63, (15) University 37

 

(Jen Jardeleza)

Colorado Academy had every intention of muscling its way into its second straight 4A Final 4 appearance. So the Mustangs used their size and physicality advantage and kicked in the door to Friday’s showdown with Coal Ridge.

“If we could beat their press and beat their pressure, we were going to move on,” forward James Claypool said.

Claypool was perhaps the epitome of that mindset as he scored 25 points and pulled down 12 rebounds. His scoring effort primarily came in the post where he either bullied his way to the basket or threw an occasional spin move in there to finish at the rim.

CA held just a seven-point edge at halftime and then found separation in the third and fourth quarters to get a decisive win.

Claypool’s stat line was the catalyst, but he had more than enough help around him as Clyde Love dropped 15 and Mikel Miller scored 12.

The Mustangs reached the Final 4 last year and lost to No. 1 seed Kent Denver 68-56. A potential rematch with the Sun Devils wouldn’t happen until the state title game. But that’s not what CA is thinking about at this point. The Mustangs like where they are and are just trying to take as much momentum as they can into the semifinals.

“We’re playing as a team,” Claypool said. “Coach [Steven Hyatt] says we have to play our best ball during the state tournament and right now, we’re doing that.”