LITTLETON — Columbine guard Jeff Potts had done it before, so draining a key 3-pointer in the final minute Saturday afternoon wasn’t out of the range of possibility.
“He didn’t hesitate and knocked down obviously a huge shot,” Columbine coach Clay Thielking said of Potts sinking a 3-pointer with 50 seconds left in the fourth quarter that gave the Rebels a 55-54 lead over Dakota Ridge. “He is a great shooter and stepped up big for us.”
No. 9-seeded Columbine would add four free throws in the final 31 seconds to hold off No. 41 seed and Class 5A Jeffco League rival Dakota Ridge. The Rebels took a 59-55 home victory to advance to the Sweet 16 of the 5A boys basketball tournament.
“I just felt good and felt like I was in rhythm,” Potts said of the 3-pointer. “I let it fly and it went in.”
Dakota Ridge senior Brayden Rhoades (31) is able to get a shot over the reach of Columbine senior David Hargis (15) on Saturday afternoon. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Potts nailed a 3-pointer in similar fashion a year ago. It what was actually his first 3-pointer at the varsity level, Potts hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds to lift Columbine to a road victory over Ralston Valley.
“He (Potts) has some guts for sure,” Columbine senior Luke O’Brien said. “It paid off for us. He has hit a couple big ones for us all year.”
O’Brien had the defensive play of the game on the other end following the 3-pointer by Potts. Dakota Ridge junior Taeshaud Jackson Jr. posted up O’Brien on the other end. Jackson Jr. elevated for a shot, but O’Brien was able to block the shot and grab the rebound.
“That was a big play,” Thielking said of O’Brien’s block with the Eagles trailing by 1-point. “Great players make great plays. That was a big play late. That kind of kept Dakota Ridge at bay.”
Columbine fans had to hold its breath if O’Brien would even finish the game. The future University of Colorado hoopster went down hard after a drive to the hoop with 2:22 left in the fourth quarter and the Rebels trailing 54-52.
O’Brien admitted he rolled his ankle three or four times throughout the game, but was right back in the game after the Rebels took a timeout.
“That dude (Jackson Jr.) is an amazing player,” O’Brien said of Jackson Jr. who had a dozen points in the second half. “The fact that I got that block was pretty good. I just had to play my hands straight up.”
Columbine senior Luke O’Brien (0) attempts to spin past Dakota Ridge senior Adam Rodriguez during the third quarter Saturday afternoon. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Jackson Jr. fouled O’Brien after the block. It was the fifth foul for the promising junior that averaged a double-double this season.
O’Brien made a living at the free-throw line in the second half, going 10-for-11 to help seal Columbine’s first trip to the Sweet 16 since the 2011-12 season.
“Breaking the ice here is really good for us,” O’Brien said. “Whoever we play it doesn’t matter. We’ll just play as hard as we can.”
Columbine (20-4 record) faces the winner of No. 25 ThunderRidge and No. 8 Boulder on Wednesday, March 4. ThunderRidge and Boulder were scheduled for a 6 p.m. game Saturday night.
Dakota Ridge wrapped up a season where it finished 11-14. Coach Sean Kovar graduates just three seniors and showed what the Eagles are capable of with Jackson Jr. and fellow junior Gino Corridori on the court at the same time.
Corridori missed a lot of the season with a wrist injury.
“Sean does a great job with those kids,” Thielking said. “With Gino (Corridori) back that changes everything. It changes match-ups and their rotation. He is a really good player. Dakota Ridge was unbelievable today.”
Corridori finished with nine points in the second half.
“We let them (players) know that our school, our community and coaches are just absolutely so proud of them,” Kovar said of what he told his team after the season-ending loss. “Credit to Columbine. They were better than us today. They made some huge plays late.”
Dakota Ridge and Columbine faced off three times this season. The Rebels came away with wins in all three, but be sure the Eagles will be motivated with a solid returning cast next year.
“I think I go into every year super excited,” Kovar said of looking ahead to next season. “I told them this was a great learning for them. If it doesn’t get them hungry to get better and work hard I don’t know what does.”
Dakota Ridge senior Quincy Alexander, left, handles the ball while being guarded by Columbine junior Tristan Alward (1) during the fourth quarter Saturday afternoon at Columbine High School. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)