Kent Denver runs it back to win second consecutive 4A boys basketball title

DENVER – A player can be a sharpshooter or a rebound magnet all game. But a clean 3-pointer or a big rebound just doesn’t hit like an emphatic dunk or two. Just ask Kent Denver’s Caleb Fay.

The senior’s back-to-back, two-handed slams punctuated Kent Denver’s 95-81 win over University to capture the Class 4A state basketball title at the Denver Coliseum on Saturday.

“That’s where my legs start to go a little bit,” Fay said, cracking a smile.

Fay hung 32 points on the Bulldogs — his eighth 30-point game of the season. He got there shooting 70% from the floor and 60% on 3-pointers. The Air Force Academy commit grabbed seven rebounds, four steals and dished out three assists.

Kent Denver and University opened the game at a blistering pace. The top-seeded Sun Devils scored 28 points on 10 of 11 shooting and hit all seven of their 3-pointers. University stayed within the key and muscled their way to 24 points. Fay had 11 first-quarter points.

“They’re just so competitive,” coach Todd Schayes said of his team. “We have three guys on the team that won the 3A state soccer championship down in (Colorado Springs). They’re unfazed and wicked competitive. Any drill that we do — shooting, jump shots — they don’t want to lose.”

But the Sun Devils (25-3) offense went cold in the second quarter, shooting less than 50% from the floor and missing six of their eight 3-pointers. But five turnovers from the No. 10 Bulldogs (20-8) kept the game close.

Kent Denver led 47-44 at halftime, and the kids were on the court early during the break to get some shots in.

The reigning champs bounced back and shot nearly 68% from the floor in the second half, and led by double digits entering the fourth.

A dominant fourth quarter secured Kent Denver’s third championship overall. Kent Denver also claimed the 3A title in 1997. Kent Denver came in second in 2007, 2012, 2013 and 2024.

“They came right back into the gym on May 1 and they were like, ‘Let’s get another one,’” Schayes recalled.

The Sun Devils graduated nine seniors from last year’s title team, leaving some doubt at the beginning of the year as to whether they could repeat, Fay said.

But the pieces to the championship jigsaw puzzle began falling into place in February.

“Our offense was flowing,” Fay said.

Kent Denver’s last loss was to Arapahoe on Jan. 3 and their only loss by more than four points came against Fruita Monument in December.

Fay played no small part in the Sun Devils’ success. He has the second-highest scoring average in 4A. Fay will snag Schayes’ keys so he can shoot in the gym on Sunday, his coach said. But, Schayes added, Fay stands out most as a leader.

“He absolutely knew he didn’t have to average 40 every night, especially with losing (seniors) he could have just said, ‘It’s my show,’” Schayes said. “But he loves these guys.”

Four Kent Denver players scored in double figures, all of whom were starters. Sam Glynn put up 24 points, while Liam Ash and Henry Czaja scored 13 and 12, respectively. Glynn also grabbed seven rebounds.

University was in its third state title game and first since 1996, which it won. University came in second in 1993.

John Elbe and River Sawyer both scored 26 points for the Bulldogs and Coehn Nitzel scored 16. Marcus Prestwich scored nine points, and no other player scored more than two.