Severance’s senior forward Damarii Wright makes no secret about it.
Since this past summer, he and his teammates have had one particular goal in mind: to finally get to the Class 5A boys basketball state tournament’s Round of 8 and play at the history-rich Denver Coliseum for the first time in the program’s six-year history.
But when the third-seeded Silver Knights step into the Coliseum on Saturday, they have no intention of being mere visitors.
They plan to take up residency in the venue over the next couple weeks.
To do so, they’ll need to extend their run well beyond this Saturday’s game against their Re-4 School District neighbor, 11th-seeded Windsor.
Severance sophomore Christian Powell (23) puts up a shot during a third-round 5A boys basketball playoff game between Severance and Green Mountain at Severance High School in Severance on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)Even as Wright and his teammates soaked in the thrill of finally qualifying for the Round of 8, as they defeated No. 14 Green Mountain 62-49 on Tuesday, the goal-oriented squad was careful not to celebrate too much.
“I think all of us were pretty emotional, even with about 1:30 left in the game,” said Wright, who had 15 points and four big blocked shots. “We’ve all wanted to be here so bad. But, the job is not finished at the end of the day. We still have three games to go to bring that state title here. And we have the dogs to do it.”
Windsor (18-7) punched its ticket with a dramatic back-and-forth third-round road win Tuesday, defeating No. 6 Regis Groff 55-53.
Severance senior Damarii Wright (1) puts up a shot during a third-round 5A boys basketball playoff game between Severance and Green Mountain at Severance High School in Severance on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)Severance (22-3) has won 15 consecutive games heading into Saturday’s marquee matchup — having not lost since Jan. 6
But none of those wins meant quite as much as the one the Silver Knights experienced Tuesday night against Green Mountain.
Severance coach Chad Salz and his Silver Knights have been postseason mainstays since the school opened its doors six years ago.
Severance and Green Mountain players battle for a loose ball during a third-round 5A boys basketball playoff game between Severance and Green Mountain at Severance High School in Severance on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)But until Tuesday, they had routinely come just a win or two shy of advancing to that Round of 8 and playing at the Coliseum.
“That’s something that has been taken away from them the past couple years,” Salz said. “Getting over that hump and getting that monkey off their back is huge. They have focused on this since June. … It’s something they’ve worked for.”
Almost instantly after Tuesday’s landmark win, Severance’s sophomore leading scorer Christian Powell said he and his teammates were already refocusing for what lays ahead.
Severance sophomore Christian Powell (23) drives the ball down the court during a third-round 5A boys basketball playoff game between Severance and Green Mountain at Severance High School in Severance on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)“It’s cool (making it to the Coliseum), but we can’t be too excited yet, because the season is not over,” said Powell, who scored a game-high 29 points Tuesday. “We can take this thing all the way. So, we just have to stay locked in. We can celebrate after.”
Now, as if Severance’s poised, selfless players needed any more motivation for Saturday, they’ll stare across the court against a Windsor team that isn’t just the defending 5A champion. With the two schools belonging to the same school district and sitting just five miles from each other, the rosters are full of kids who grew up with each other, on and off the court.
“It’s going to be great,” Salz said. “It’s something they’ve been begging for, to play (Windsor). There are a lot of kids that I have coached, growing up through club and our feeder program. It will be a fun atmosphere. I’m sure the town will empty out, and it will be fun for the boys. The biggest thing for both sides is just the mental aspect of the game, making sure they keep their composure and focus on what they need to do.”
Severance junior Jordan Rodriguez (10) grabs a rebound from the air during a third-round 5A boys basketball playoff game between Severance and Green Mountain at Severance High School in Severance on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)Wright said some of his very best friends are members of Windsor’s team.
Those friendships will remain unchanged before and after Saturday’s game.
But during the game, he’s more than happy to temporarily set those friendships aside, as Severance tries to take one step closer to its first boys basketball championship in school history — a year after Windsor won a boys hoops title for the first time in 101 years.
“I probably won’t talk to my best friends who are on that team for the three days before the game,” Wright said. “At the end of the day, I’m not friends with anybody except for the boys that wear the same jersey as me on the court. Outside of the court, we’re still friends. But, we’re trying to go out there and handle business.”
Windsor High School guard Madden Smiley smiles as he prepares to shoot a free throw against Fossil Ridge on Tuesday Jan. 14, 2025 in Windsor.(Jim Rydbom/Greeley Tribune file photo)Championship-level focus
If Windsor is to repeat as the 5A state champion over the next couple weeks, that would definitely be a title that is well earned.
As the 11th seed of the 40-team state tournament, the Wizards were afforded just one home game against a lower seeded team after receiving a first round bye.
However, Tuesday’s win against Regis Groff provided perhaps the exact blueprint battle-tested Windsor would need to score a few more upsets, presumably, against teams seeded higher on the bracket.
The Wizards came out the gate as the aggressor, jumping out to a 33-23 halftime lead. They withstood a big run by the Fusion after halftime, resulting in the game being tied at 36 in the third quarter.
Windsor responded with a run of its own, going back up by nine points before narrowly withstanding one more Regis Groff run.
The Fusion trimmed the gap to a point in the final minute, but the Wizards made their free throws down the stretch to clinch the win.
Saturday’s game against Severance will be Windsor’s fourth consecutive trip to the state quarterfinals. The Wizards have gone 3-0 in each of those previous trips to the Round of 8, advancing to the state finals the past two years.
A game time for Saturday’s game is expected to be announced Thursday.
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