Prep Hoops 10 Best: Broomfield vs. Aurora Central
BOULDER — Broomfield on Monday looked a lot like what we thought they could be heading into this season: A legit contender for the 5A Front Range League crown.
In dismantling 4A Aurora Central 75-49, the Eagles displayed versatile size, shot-making ability and effective pressuring defense.
Broomfield is as balanced as any team in their league. The Eagles sprinted to a 16-2 opening run in the first quarter during the opening game of the Fairview Festival and never looked back.
This will be a team to watch going forward.
MVP: Spencer Wolff, Broomfield
The 6-6 senior set the tone by playing smart an physical down low. Without a player taller than 6-4 on its roster, the Trojans were at a size disadvantage and Wolff capitalized. He moved well without the ball, took his time and didn’t rush when he got the ball down low and, most importantly, finished at the rim.
Play of the Game
Early in the third quarter, Broomfield’s Devin Martinez stole the ball and the Eagles worked the ball beautifully in transition. A couple quick passes hit point guard Sam Foster, who just missed the 3-pointer. But Michael Georgiton, a 6-4 junior, grabbed the rebound, scored a contested layup and drew the foul. The play sparked the Broomfield students on hand and lit the fuse for a big run.
Best offensive performance: Sam Foster, Broomfield
The talented 6-1 senior point guard is the one who makes everything tick for the Eagles. He started things off with a couple 3-pointers during the opening run and then turned into a facilitator. Foster has the ability to score in bunches, but he also makes offense happen even when he’s not scoring.
Best defensive performance: Mason Keeler, Broomfield
The 6-5 senior who looks like a tight end did a little bit of everything on the defensive end. Most notably he battled strong on the boards and made it hard for Aurora Central to find room inside.
Best intangibles: Devin Martinez, Broomfield
The 6-7 junior put his athleticism on display with two big dunks in the second quarter, one off an inbounds play and another off a putback. What you really like about Martinez is they way he’s constantly moving. He causes problems for opponents because he constantly makes them works. Also constantly encouraging teammates.
Best intangibles, part II: R’Ron Fisher, Aurora Central
What we saw from the 6-2 senior was constant communication. He always pointing teammates in the right direction, and we saw two different instances him guiding his teammates directly led to a steal.
Best Aurora Central underclassmen: Jayden Robinson
The 5-9 sophomore is whip-quick and loves to push the tempo. Came up with a couple steals while guarding the ball and usually had his eyes up the court. Made a beautiful no-look pass at the end of the first half to help trim AC’s halftime deficit to 13 after it had grown to 20 in the first half.
Best Broomfield underclassmen: Steven Croell
The 6-2 sophomore, the son of well-respected former Broomfield girls coach Mike Croell, is as fundamentally sound as you’d expect a coach’s son to be. He’s strong with the basketball, picks his spots and plays good team defense.
Best kicks: Aurora Central
The dark green Kobe 11 engineered mesh IDs, which perfectly matched Aurora Central’s shorts and jerseys, are about as clean of a look as you’ll find this season. A couple players opted for the dark green LeBron Soldier 10s, which were also icy.
The story to watch going forward for Broomfield: Can they do it?
Can the Eagles win the Front Range League. It’s a distinct possibility given the experienced depth the team has. What was most impressive Monday was the number of contributors that played roles in different ways. There’s a lot to like about this deep team.
The story to watch going forward for Aurora Central: How will Trojans gel?
The Trojans certainly have some nice athleticism in players like Robinson, Fisher, senior point guard Larry Thomas and others, and they are the best when they are attacking in transition. The question is how quickly the will mesh and begin to make their defensive principals become instinct under first-year coach Robert Harrison.