DENVER — A year after winning the program’s first state championship in Class 4A, the Resurrection Christian boys basketball team matched that feat Saturday, winning their second straight championship, this time in 3A.
The Cougars defeated Strasburg for the third time this season, 55-42, at the University of Denver’s Hamilton Gym, completing a perfect season in the process with an unblemished 28-0 record.
It is the second undefeated season in program history, after the 2020 team was undefeated going into the state tournament before it was canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
And a year after the first championship, the feelings were similar to those from a season ago.
“It feels amazing,” RCS senior Graham Riggs said. “Back-to-back is just something that is very rare, something that doesn’t happen, so it’s really cool. I’m really happy to do it with this group of guys, and it was really fun. Last year, it was fun, but back-to-back is even better.”
The Cougars jumped out a 13-6 lead at the end of the first quarter, establishing their presence with quick ball movement and stingy defense.
They were able to extend their lead in the second period and led 28-16 at halftime. But the Indians made sure the Cougars didn’t run away with the game even more in the second half.
“Both teams know each other so well,” RCS head coach Ryan Yoder said. “They’re a really good team, extremely well-coached. They play so hard, but our guys just have the grit and the toughness, and thank goodness they prioritize defense and rebounding because it carries you through some of the offensive slumps should you go through them in a game.”
RCS took a 39-26 lead into the fourth quarter, but the Indians found ways to cut into the Cougars’ lead. They cut it to nine on a couple of occasions and even seven once.
But each time, the Cougars were able to answer back and never let the Indians get within fewer than three possessions.
“We knew they would come out intense because they’re a great team,” RCS senior Ty Yoder said. “Strasburg’s very well-coached and they’ve got a great team, and they thought they could beat us, so we just carried that mindset with us, and we just played our game; nothing different.”
Strasburg began to foul the Cougars with just under two minutes remaining in the game. Most of them were on Yoder, who made his free throws each time he stepped to the line.
Appropriately, it was Yoder who had the ball in his hands as the final seconds clicked off the clock.
The Cougars senior led the team with 17 points, including a perfect 8-for-8 shooting display at the free-throw line. Riggs had 11 points to go with 15 rebounds. Cade Crutcher added 11 points, and Egan Koenig had 10.
“We knew Strasburg is a great team, all credit to them,” Riggs said. “We just had to come in here and work hard and play Rez basketball and we knew we’d get the outcome we wanted. So, I think coming into this game, we all had the mentality that we had to work hard. We had to play our best to win, and we did.”
Crutcher and Ty Yoder started four years for the Cougars and amassed a 96-13 record with three state championship game appearances and two state titles.
RCS will also carry a 42-game winning streak into next season.
“It’s equally satisfying and fulfilling,” coach Yoder said of the second consecutive championship. “I guess this year came with more expectations, which I’m really proud of how our coaching staff and our players, there was never really any feeling of pressure, or, ‘What if?’
“It was more about let’s enjoy the moment. Let’s have fun. Let’s play for each other, and, man, what an amazing moment. I’m really proud of these guys.”
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