2019 Denver Tip Off Classic: Monarch vs. Thomas Jefferson

<p>With the season underway this week, there are several good tournaments taking place.  The 2019 Denver Tip Off Classic co-hosted by Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson has a field of teams that include: Gateway, Ponderosa, Castle View, Prairie View, Falcon, Lincoln, Monarch and Thomas Jefferson.  Below we take a look into the Wednesday night matchup between Monarch and Thomas Jefferson.  TJ was coming off a season opening win against Sierra on Monday night and Monarch was also coming off a road win against Prairie View on Monday.  The 2019 Denver Tip Off Classic will continue on Friday at both locations and Saturday it will all be at Thomas Jefferson. </p> <p><em>Monarch starts the season 2-0 after victory against TJ in first round of the 2019 Denver Tip Off Classic </em></p> <p>Monarch has eight seniors on their roster this year and two games into the season they're led by <strong>Ethan Henderson</strong>, the 6'5 big man for the Coyotes.  Monday he went for 16 points and seven rebounds against Prairie View, he would follow that up with a 19 point performance on the opening night of the 2019 Denver Tip Off Classic.  <strong>Joey Covington </strong>was also in double figures for the Coyotes with 12 points, hitting two three pointers.  It was a 20-9 fourth quarter advantage for Monarch which would end up being the difference in the game.  They came up with clutch stops when they needed to and also had players hit big shots in the fourth.  <strong>Sam Carlson </strong>had a big fourth, scoring all eight for his points then, including two big three-pointers.  Monarch will face Castle View on Friday evening in the semi final game at 7pm at Thomas Jefferson High School. </p> <p><i>TJ led majority of the game until the fourth </i></p> <p>Coming off a solid season opening win against Sierra, Thomas Jefferson drops their first game in the tournament they're co-hosting with Lincoln this year.  TJ had a monster fourth quarter against Sierra which helped them gain the victory, but Wednesday night it was the opposite story.  A bad fourth quarter would end up costing TJ the win on Wednesday night to Monarch.  TJ entered the fourth with a 45-37 lead over Monarch but would give up 20 points in the quarter to the Coyotes.  A major bright spot for TJ though is the play they have received from sophomore <strong>Said Mobasher</strong>, who led them in scoring Wednesday with 19 points.  He had a monster third quarter, knocking down four three-pointers in the quarter.  Mobasher has a big upside, if you haven't seen him play I would suggest checking out a TJ game.  <strong>Darius Hornbuckle</strong> the dynamic scoring guard was second on the team in scoring on the night with 13 points.  Thomas Jefferson will face Gateway on Friday evening at 5:30 at Thomas Jefferson High School.</p> <p><em>2019 Denver Tip Off Classic Night One Final Scores:</em></p> <p>Ponderosa 83, Prairie View 52</p> <p>Castle View 37, Gateway 35</p> <p>Monarch 57, Thomas Jefferson 54</p> <p>Lincoln 71, Falcon 60 </p>