Chatfield senior Mike Vrabel, left, drives past Doherty senior Emmanuel Burleson on Tuesday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
LITTLETON — An 23-5 start Tuesday night by Chatfield was enough of a cushion to give the Chargers a victory over Doherty in a Class 5A boys basketball top-10 showdown.
A layup by Chatfield senior Lucas St. Germain moments into the second quarter gave the Chargers an 18-point lead at home against the Spartans, ranked No. 6 in the current CHSAANow.com 5A boys hoops rankings. However, No. 7 Chatfield saw its lead dwindled down to four points twice in the second half before eventually taking a 69-61 victory.
“We knew they would come back,” Chatfield coach Stephen Schimpeler said of the defending 5A Colorado Springs Metro League champs. “We are a team of runs and when they cut (the lead) in the second half we went on our little run.”
A key run by the Chargers (7-1 record) started with a thunderous breakaway dunk by senior Titus Reed (15 points). Junior Keland Rumsey (six points) then converted on another steal seconds later and was able to lay the ball in and get fouled for a 3-point play.
Senior Joe Miks buried a 3-pointer and senior Alex Beckley scored on a drive to the basket to give the Chargers a 51-37 lead with just over three minutes left in the third quarter.
Chatfield’s Joe Miks (13) goes up for a shot over Doherty’s Devin Brimble. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“This is a team of runs. With all the talent we have on this team we are just so dangerous. We can score at will at times,” said Miks, who finished with a team-high 16 points. “The key is getting good shots and getting stops on defense.”
Doherty went on a run itself in the fourth quarter to get within striking distance again. The Spartans (6-3) nailed three 3-pointers in the span of 70 seconds to pull within 61-57 with two minutes to play in the fourth.
Doherty senior Brevin Brimble had two of the buckets from long range. However, Brimble fouled out in the final minute after scoring a game-high 23 points.
“Our whole team knew we had to pick it up on defense and really on Brevin (Brimble),” Rumsey said. “We had to get a hand up and make sure he isn’t shooting the 3.”
A 3-point play from Miks with just under a minute to play pushed the Chargers’ lead to 65-57 to help put the game away.
“There are always games where you just want to survive. This was one of them, especially after break,” Schimpeler said after Chatfield wrapped up its non-league schedule with a sixth straight win. “You just never know what you are going to get.”
Schimpeler admitted before the winter break that he was concerned about his players staying in shape during the nine-day hiatus that only allowed for four voluntary team practices from Dec. 24 to Jan. 1.
Chatfield senior Mike Vrabel (22) had eight points before fouling out Tuesday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
One concern Schimpeler has now is the health of Beckley. The senior guard has gone through a foot injury, mononucleosis and then went down with an apparent ankle injury with just under five minutes to play Tuesday night. Beckley, who was playing in just his fourth game this season, had nine points off the bench before suffering the ankle injury.
“We need Beckley,” Schimpeler said. “All I want is to be healthy. I think we are really good if we are healthy.”
Both Chatfield and Doherty now turn their attention to defending conference titles.
The Chargers went 14-0 in 5A Jeffco during their state semifinal run last season. Chatfield opens conference play at home 7 p.m. Thursday against Pomona (3-4). A 1 p.m. showdown Saturday at Lakewood High School could be the biggest hurdle for the Chargers to repeat as league champs. The Tigers (5-2) are loaded with talent that includes Jacob Storey (20.6 points per game) and Kolton Peterson (18 ppg).
“It was a little sloppy this game, but I think come league we are going to clean it up,” Rumsey said. “We’ll take one game at a time and do well. I’m excited.”
Doherty opens conference play in the 5A Colorado Spring Metro League at home 7 p.m. Thursday against Liberty (5-4). The Spartans went 11-1 in league play last season on their way to a berth in the state quarterfinals. Their lone conference loss was to Liberty.
Chatfield senior Alex Beckley, left, puts defensive pressure on Doherty junior Duke Carey in the first half Tuesday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)