https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-qqLSQNlG4
#1 Overland – 60
#5 Regis – 65
Aurora, CO – As time expired Monday night at Regis High School the euphoric home crowd began to hold up 7 fingers. The 7 fingers represented 700 victories for one of the Colorado coaching greats, Ken Shaw. I’m not sure who Coach Shaw’s 600th victory was against, but I’m assuming the win was not as memorable as his 700th. In front of a capacity crowd, Regis brought in the New Year in style by defeating nationally ranked Overland High.
Reserve big man Marc Reininger of Regis gets De’ron Davis in the air with a solid post move. Reininger scored five first quarter points off of the bench for Regis. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)
Regis took control early in the 1st quarter behind physical drives from senior wing Dante Brennan, and reserve big man Marc Reinniger. For Overland it was standout senior point guard Jervae Robinson who got them going. Robinson was aggressive from the opening tip, and took advantage of the gaps created by the defensive attention Regis paid to 5 star prospect and Indiana bound De’Ron Davis. It was evident that Regis was going to force someone other than Davis to beat them. Robinson, who is a great finisher repeatedly attacked the paint off of the bounce and finished the 1st quarter with 6 points, while Brennan finished with 6 and Reinniger scored all 5 of his points in the 1st quarter. Davis’s post looks were minimized by Regis and when he did catch it he was quickly met with aggressive post doubles. Davis handled the post doubles and was able to identify guards on the opposite side of the floor for scoring opportunities. Regis led 16 – 10 at the end of the 1st quarter. Davis may not have had an impact on the offensive end, but he made quite an impact on the defensive end by blocking and altering Regis’s shots in the paint.
Senior Alijah Halliburton of Overland scored 8 points in the second quarter to keep Overland close. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)
Midway through the second quarter Regis jumped out to an 8 point lead at 29 – 21 after a shooting foul call followed by a technical foul that gave them four free throws. Regis converted on all four free throws and appeared to take command of the quarter. Regis had everything going for them. They had Overland flustered and they were in the double bonus with 4:40 remaining in the second quarter. Overland responded with deep post looks for Davis. Each time Davis caught the ball on the block he either scored, got fouled, or both. Davis scored 7 points in the second quarter and senior forward Alijah Halliburton came to life with 8 timely points. Halliburton operated on the baseline against Regis’s 1-3-1 defense. Behind the one-two punch of Halliburton and Davis, Overland closed the lead to 2 points at 31 -29 with less than a minute remaining. Regis closed the half with a 3 pointer by sophomore guard Elijah Martinez and Davis tacked on two more free throws for Overland to make the halftime score Regis 34 and Overland 31.
To start the third quarter both teams stayed close to one another. Robinson showed off his skill set by taking it coast-to-coast two times in a row. On both trips he showed off his ability to stop on a dime and change speeds, creating easy paint finishes for him. After another strong baseline drive by Halliburton, tying the score at 39 – 39 with 4:30 left in the third, Regis went on a three point shooting tear. It all started with a deep bomb from senior guard Michael Wambsgnass. Overland responded with a deep post feed to Davis, resulting in a basket and the foul, but Davis couldn’t convert the free-throw. Overland then briefly took its first and only lead of the game behind a strong post move by Halliburton that made the score 43-42. Regis responded with a trey bomb by Wambsgnass. After another Halliburton finish, Martinez of Regis connected on another three pointer. At the end of three Regis led 48 – 44
De’Ron Davis of Overland finishes above the rim. Whenever Davis recieved the ball deep in the paint he delivered. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)
In the 4th quarter Jervae Robinson of Overland lost his legs. Robinson led Overland with 19 points, but early in the 4th he was short on several jump shots. It was clear that Overland’s success was going to fall on Robinson’s ability to score as Regis stayed committed to not allowing De’Ron Davis to beat them inside. They tripled team him on the catch forcing him to kick it out to guards. Robinson appeared to be the only willing and capable perimeter scorer for Overland. Coach Danny Fisher made a great adjustment which allowed Robinson to get mid range looks as opposed to long 3 point jump shots. That adjustment resulted in a basket to tie the game at 54 with 3:40 remaining. Regis followed that up with a huge three from an unexpected source. With 2:43 remaining senior post player Geoff Kelly knocked down a three pointer from the top of the key. Robinson of Overland came right back with a another mid range finish pulling Overland to within one point at 57 – 56. Drennan of Regis then probed his way into the lane for a smooth floater off of the glass with 1:30 remaining. After a crucial free throw miss on the front end of a 1-and-1 by Robinson, Regis had the ball with 1:06 remaining. Davis rotated over and recorded his 9th block of the game on a Drennan lay up attempt but unfortunately for Davis and Overland, Gage Dyer was Johnny on the spot and flew hard to the basket to retrieve Davis’s block and lay it up giving Regis a five point lead with less than a minute to go. Dyer’s put back was the nail in the coffin for Regis and locked up Ken Shaw’s 700 victory.
Defining moments of the game – Kelly’s three pointer with 2:43 ignited Regis and their rowdy home crowd, and it kept the pressure on Overland who could never seem to get the stop they needed to control the game.
Dyer’s put back to put Regis up 5 points with less than one minute to go. On the surface it would seem that Regis got a lucky break. On the play Davis blocked his 9th shot and Regis ended up with the ball for a lay up, but Dyer should be applauded for pursuing the ball. As Davis rotated to block the shot the remaining Overland players stood and watched, while Dyer anticipated the block and flew to the basket for the game sealing put back.
3’s for 2’s – Throughout the second half Regis and Overland went on stretches where they would trade baskets. The problem was Overland scored two point baskets, while Regis scored three’s. Regis outscored Overland 18 – 3 from the 3-point line on the night.
De’Ron Davis of Overland finished with 9 blocks on the night. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)
What kind of party is it?- It’s a block party and De’Ron Davis is the host. Davis recorded 9 blocks on the night and altered several others.
Consistent scoring from other sources – After seeing Overland play earlier this year and watching what they were able to do on the national stage in Las Vegas I assumed Overland would be unbeatable in Colorado. While Overland is still my pick to win it all, Regis exposed a void in the offensive attack. Overland needs to establish capable and willing scorers not named De’Ron Davis and Jervae Robinson. Last night Alijiah Halliburton had 15 points, but late in the 4th quarter the only two willing scorers were Davis and Robinson. Senior point guard Reggie Gibson is more than capable and for Overland to return to form Reggie needs to return to being the offensive threat he was last year.
Guarding the 3 point line – Overland has no problem protecting the paint as evident by De’Ron Davis’s 9 blocks, but they must do a better job of guarding the three point line. Assuming Davis is healthy and not in foul trouble the only way they can be beat is if they give up three point baskets. It bears repeating that Regis was +15 from the three-point line.
Team effort for Regis – Regis had several players step up to contribute to the upset victory over Overland. Senior Marc Renniger’s 5 first quarter points and physical screens, Elijah Martinez’s timely baskets, Michael Wambsganss third quarter three point tear, Gage Dyer’s 8 points and game sealing put back lay up, and senior Geoff Kelly’s 9 4th quarter points were all needed for Regis to take down Goliath (Overland).
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