On March 11, The Denver East Angels won their 12th championship as a program by defeating the Fossil Ridge Sabercats 82-61. The roster for this championship squad includes Gil Gonzalez, Jack Greenwood, Henry Chapman, Sam Scott, D’Aundre Samuels, Howard Cameron, Irving Wilson, Ryan Kelly, Lance Price, MJ Dailey, Terrence Morgan, Austin Mohr, Carter Smith, and Mousa Diop. They were led by Coach Rudy Carey. Photo by Dan Whitaker/CHSAA

The Denver East Angels basketball team achieved several remarkable feats while beating the Fossil Ridge Sabercats from Fort Collins and winning the 6A State Championship on March 11.

The 26-2 record for the season demonstrated the resilience of this Denver East team. The Angels lost the first two games of the year, including a blowout loss to Fossil Ridge. But the team responded to that adversity by maximizing their performance level and by going on a 26-game winning streak.

During the title game at the Denver Coliseum, the Angels showcased the qualities they exhibited throughout the season. The same superior depth, excellent teamwork, complementary basketball, and effective execution that shined bright all year also propelled the Angels to great heights in this big game. With a strong second quarter and an explosive second half, the formidable defense and prolific offense allowed the Angels to secure the championship with a convincing 82-61 victory.

Many players delivered great performances and contributed to the impressive win. Jack Greenwood led the scoring with a game-high 27 points, D-Aundre Samuels soared with 25 points, and Austin Mohr knocked down buckets for 11 points. Additionally, earth-shaking dunks by Gil Gonzalez ignited the team with surges of momentum.

Certain milestones were achieved with this Denver East championship victory. This was the 10th title for Coach Rudy Carey, who has been coaching the Angels for over five decades. He is now the most successful basketball coach in Colorado history with 897 regular season wins and 10 championships, both the most in the state.

But this was also significant for the entire Denver East basketball program. Though it was their first title since 2014, it was their 12th championship in school history and this ties Manual for the most championship wins of any Colorado high school. This establishes the Angels as an elite dynasty in high school basketball and a source of inspiration for the Denver East community.