1A boys basketball semifinals: Denver Jewish Day, Belleview Christian set for title game matchup

GREELEY — The top two seeds in the 1A boys basketball state tournament are now ready for battle as No. 1 Belleview Christian and No. 2 Denver Jewish Day won their semifinal games to advance to Saturday’s championship matchup. 

Denver Jewish escaped No. 3 McClave by a score of 53-47 in the first semifinal before Belleview Christian took care of No. 4 Stratton, 50-48, in the nightcap at the University of Northern Colorado’s Bank of Colorado Arena. 

The 1A state championship game is scheduled for an 8:30 p.m. tipoff at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland.

Stratton and McClave will stay at the Bank for the third-place game on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

(2) Denver Jewish Day 53, (3) McClave 47

A comeback for the ages has Denver Jewish Day headed to its first boys basketball state championship game in school history. 

After falling behind 25-10 midway through the second quarter, Denver Jewish stormed back to tie McClave at 29 with about two minutes remaining in the third quarter. Senior guard Ilan Schingael sunk the tying basket on a baseline floater and senior Gavin Foonberg put back an offensive rebound soon after to give the Tigers a 31-29 lead. McClave, the defending 1A champs, trailed for the remainder, ultimately falling 53-47. 

Foonberg was held to only two points in the first 16 minutes but erupted for in the second half, scoring seven from the stripe in crunch time. Altogether, Denver Jewish scored 40 second-half points compared to just 13 in the first half. 

In his 16th year at the helm, Denver Jewish head coach Michael Foonberg, who has overseen just two losing seasons during his tenure, is now one win away from history. 

Senior Aydin Gomez’s 14-point, 11-rebound double-double led McClave, and senior Aiden Martinez also added 10 points. The Cardinals will come back to the Bank of Colorado Arena on Saturday to face Stratton in the third-place game at 1:00 p.m. 

(1) Belleview Christian 50, (4) Stratton 48

The second semifinal game entered the final minute of regulation tied at 48. 

Belleview Christian, which trailed by six at the half, battled back in the third quarter thanks to a dominant defensive effort and needed about 60 more seconds of strong basketball to fully overcome Stratton. From there, junior Brandon Ewing sunk a pair of free throws for the lead and the Bruins’ D kept Stratton scoreless down the stretch.

The 50-48 final gives Belleview Christian its first state title game ticket since the Bruins won it all in 2021. 

In the second half, Belleview Christian rode the hot hand of Davin Hunter. The senior scored six points in the third quarter and nailed a pair of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter en route to a 10-point game. Ewing, meanwhile, led the team with 12, junior Jaggu Sandhu had 9 and Nathaniel Owen eight. 

Stratton’s shifty point guard Cyler Notter scored all of his team-high 15 points of five 3-pointers, including two in the fourth quarter. 

The win improved Belleview Christian to 24-1 on the season while Stratton fell to 18-8.