DENVER – Religion Christian Academy started the season atop the rankings in school 3A boys basketball.
Religion Christian Academy ended the season with a state basketball title, its seventh at school historical past and its first since 2012.
The Eagles took benefit of a powerful defensive effort within the second half and an 18-point efficiency from Carson Jasa to a 54-47 win over Salida Excessive College, March 11, on the College of Denver.
“I’m more than happy,” Jasa mentioned, “Simply figuring out how a lot work this staff put in and the way devoted we have been to creating this finish purpose and taking it minute by minute, possession by possession. It ended up being nice.”
Keegan Paige added 16 factors to the Eagles’ trigger. Grasp Diggins, who left the sport for a short while after an damage, contributed eight.
“We’ve been enjoying collectively for a very long time,” Paige mentioned. “We’ve put within the work, arduous work, each single day. It paid off as we speak. We knew we have been an excellent staff the entire approach, no query.”
“Our boys battled and pushed via,” mentioned FCA coach Abram Ziemer. “We needed to play three robust groups within the playoffs. They pushed via on each nights. Tonight, they shared the ball Salida needed to guard all 5 gamers on the ground. That’s robust to do with high-schoolers.”
Ziemer mentioned more often than not, he may depend upon three dominant scorers most nights.
“However on the identical time, we had a number of guys who have been scoring 15 factors right here and there,” Ziemer mentioned. “It was enjoyable to look at them play. Some nights, it’s been like, ‘OK, who’s going to be the man?’ However it’s been enjoyable working with these guys.”
Tristan Jackson led the Spartans with 23 factors. However his different teammates couldn’t decide up the slack, thanks partly to the Eagles’ protection. Chase Diesslen had 10, and Nate Yearsley added six.
“I’m not a lot of a basketball participant,” Jasa mentioned. “I can play some protection. I’m tall, I’m lengthy. And I like to dam photographs.”
“We’ve had six seniors who’ve been collectively for therefore lengthy,” Ziemer mentioned. “A number of of them have grown up collectively since kindergarten. It’s enjoyable to see. So many individuals have mentioned, ‘When you determine this out and also you attain your potential, you’ll get there some day.’ It’s enjoyable to see it come to fruition.”
“We knew we have been the most effective staff,” Jasa mentioned. “We knew we needed to carry out, and it wasn’t going to be straightforward. We knew we have been No. 1, and we proved it as we speak.”
Religion Christian completed 25-1. The one loss was to 4A Eagle Ridge Academy.
“It’s arduous to win a state title, even if you’re the No. 1 staff,” Ziemer mentioned. “I believed in these guys at the start of the 12 months. When the primary rankings got here out at the start of the 12 months and we have been the No. 1 staff, that places a little bit little bit of strain on you. These guys owned as much as that and believed they have been the No. 1 staff.”
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