Eads Eagles Soar to First State Title Since 1975

KCP Staff

March 21, 2003

The last time Eads had a state championship in basketball bell-bottoms and long hair were the "in" fashions among teenagers and the Eagles had fast guards, like Brent Stoker and Glen Davis, who could shoot lights out, and big men, the likes of Jerry and Mike Weirich and David McBee, inside the paint who controlled the boards. That 1975 team thrilled the crowd with their run-and-gun offense and intense defensive pressure and easily won the state championship over Walsh, 58-38, with Davis and Stoker named to the all-tournament team and Davis named the MVP of the tourney.

Fast forward nearly 30 years later to 2003 where the modern Eads Eagles have a lot in common with the past heroes as they, too, brought fast, dead-eye guards and big men who controlled the boards to the state tournament leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind how dominant the Eagles really were. Eads would cakewalk through the tournament demoralizing all three opponents including Deer Trail in the opening round, 67-37; Debeque in the semifinals, 75-45; and Flagler in the state championship, 59-32.

In addition, the Eagles would get three players on the all-tournament first team including junior Steven Gilmore, and seniors Ryan Trosper and Keyvis Gilmore. Keyvis Gilmore would become the second Eagle in school history to be named MVP of the tournament.

Eads entered the tournament on Thursday in the No. 2 hole behind Cheraw who was on a mission to earn a third state championship in as many years. They would take on No. 7 Deer Trail at Massari Gym at the University of Southern Colorado campus and walk away with a thirty-point win. Behind explosive outside shooting by the Gilmore trio who combined for 43 points and four three-balls, Eads took the lead early and never looked back. Deer Trail was hampered by strong defensive pressure by Eads and could not find an answer for the supreme inside-outside game of the Gilmores and posts Ryan Trosper, Casey Gibbs, and Levi Kraft. The youngest Gilmore, Marcus, would lead all scorers with 17 points, while older brother Keyvis came in with 16, Trosper would get 14 inside points, and Steven Gilmore would contribute 10 more.

The semifinal round proved fruitful for Eads as they controlled a small Debeque team who had upset Westland Christian in the quarterfinals. A huge second quarter that produced 21 points for the explosive Eagles was the difference in the ball game as Debeque struggled to get any offense going against the good man pressure Eads put on the court. The Eagles would get nine players in the books with Keyvis Gilmore having one of his best games of the season hitting for 27 points including three treys. Trosper and Gibbs would enjoy good production down on the blocks contributing 12 and 11 points apiece. The semis were not so kind to Cheraw who saw their hopes for the three-peat disappear when Flagler hung with them through three quarters and then attacked in the fourth holding on to a huge upset over the No. 1 seeded Wolverines.

That upset would set the stage at the Pueblo Events Center that was abuzz on Championship Saturday with fans who filled the place hoping to see some exciting basketball. And the Eagles did not disappoint as their trademark inside-outside game was textbook. Trosper would attack right away hitting for eight straight points for Eads in the first while Marcus Gilmore would add one lone three. However, Flagler roared back in the waning minute of the first actually taking the slim lead after one, 12-11. But it was a huge second-quarter scoring blast that opened up the game for Eads. The Gilmores exploded from the outside for three long balls and when the Panthers would try to shut down the three, the extremely quick G-Boys would penetrate and dish. There were times when three orange defenders would fall on a Gilmore and Trosper would end up with the uncontested put-in on the opposite block. Some mighty fine basketball earned Eads a ten point cushion at halftime leading 32-22.

It was the defense that got the job done in the final half of play as Eads held the Panthers to a mere 10 points in the second half. "We talked about stepping up the defense at half time and came out ready to put on the pressure," commented the elder Gilmore. Both teams were cold in the third with Eads only producing seven points but holding Flagler to a puny basket. However, it was full-out assault by Eads going into the final period of the year as Eads showed a total team effort that had players doing everything right. Trosper played the last game of his prep career in high style as he scored 25 points in the championship. Keyvis Gilmore had a tremendous tournament hitting for 16 points in the final game. Finally, finally, the buzzer in the Events Center sounded and the celebration began with the Eads boys bringing home their second gold ball in the history of the school.

Keyvis Gilmore, who was named MVP of the tournament and to the first team all-tournament team, scored 59 points in the three day tournament, while Trosper and Steven Gilmore were also named to the first team all-tournament team hit for 51 and 26 points respectively.