Arapahoe Herald

Boys basketball season comes to historic end

Wednesday, April 11, 2012 By Cali Rastrelli

This year, the boy’s basketball team carved a historic season that will forever be preserved in the minds of Arapahoe alumni as one of the greatest. The boys battled against hardships all season, not the least of which was the assumption that this year the team would be plagued with growing pains. “We came into the season with no returning starters,” Head Coach Dan Snyder said. “Our players worked really hard and came together well during the season.” Snyder, who coached the All-Star White team two weeks ago, was instrumental to the team’s success. “I think he is the hardest working coach in the state,” senior Zach Kocur said. “That helped us get prepared for every single game and built our confidence.” The Warriors clinched their playoff spot early, thanks to an undefeated league record. “We won the Centennial League for the third straight year and returned to the Final Four for the second straight year,” Snyder said. “We also won 25 games.” Despite their early success, the Warriors faced their biggest challenge with a couple of games to go in the regular season. Team captain Tim Haas shattered his foot in the game against Cherry Creek. “I think we all felt bad for ourselves for about ten minutes,” Haas said. “But then we just had to turn around and say, ‘It is what it is.’” Snyder helped Haas and the rest of the team accept what had happened and make the best of it by encouraging them to accept this obstacle in order to overcome it. “I told Tim and the team that injuries like that one are things that we don’t have any control over, so there’s no point in moping about it,” Snyder said. “We had to accept that it happened and move on.” Without Haas, who was ranked seventh in scoring in 5A, first in the Centennial League, and led the team with 20.1 points per game, many feared the team would fall apart. Instead, the Warriors used their home court advantage to defeat their first playoff opponent, Grand Junction 52-26. “We all just had to step up and play as hard as we could,” Kocur said. “It was just one more thing to play for. We played for Tim.” Four days after their Grand Junction victory, the Warriors advanced to the Sweet 16 where they rallied to beat Legend 75-67 with a last second basket by Kocur in overtime to seal the deal. “The Legend game was our last game at home,” Bobzien said. “It was loud, it was packed, it was just a great atmosphere.” Kocur, Bobzien and captain Shane Jensen stepped up their game as the playoffs continued, leading the team to a 55-53 victory in the Elite Eight game against Thunder Ridge with a last second reverse layup from Kocur. “All of the playoff games were amazing to play in,” Jensen said. “We had so many fans. Even in college, I don’t think I will play in front of that many people.” The Warriors won big in the Final Four game versus Rangeview, advancing to the championship game with a 66-41 victory. “We had a lot of great wins,” Snyder said. “I think this team did a great job of playing to its highest level of potential.” On Saturday, Feb. 10, a massive portion of the student body blacked out the court at the CU Events Center to watch the Warriors take on Chaparral for the state championship game. Though the Warriors were behind for most of the first half, they came out fighting in the third quarter after encouragement from Coach Snyder at the half. “I told them that if Chaparral continued to shoot so well, we were in a lot of trouble,” Snyder said. “However, logic said that they would not continue to shoot so well in the second half, especially if we could pick up our defense. We had a great run in the third quarter that got us right back into the game. From that point on the game was extremely close.” The second half proved to be a nail-biter with teams exchanging baskets and the crowds exchanging cheers and jeers. Though Chaparral won 69-67 in overtime with a last second tip-in, the excitement of the game could not be matched. “The administration said that we had the most fans Arapahoe had ever seen at that game,” said Kocur. “Even though we didn’t come out on top, we will remember that for the rest of our lives.” The multitude of fans at the game did not let the unfortunate ending keep them down, and many posted words of encouragement on Facebook, congratulating the boys on their great season. “I was so proud of those boys,” senior Josh Holland said. “It was an edge-of-your-seat game. That’s how a game should be played.” Both fans and players appreciate the opportunity they had to play in such a high intensity game. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” Jensen said. “I wish we could have played for another five hours, but I enjoyed every second.” The effect of hearing friends and family in the stands, shouting encouragement should never be underestimated. “On the basketball court, you get in the zone,” Bobzien said. “But then you look up and see 1,500 fans, you see your mom, your dad, everyone you’ve grown up with. That’s the best part, that support. I don’t think you can relive that moment.”