LOVELAND - After witnessing two consecutive upsets at the Budweiser Events Center, the Aurora Central boys basketball team wasn't about to become a third consecutive high- seed casualty.

The Trojans, the top overall seed in the Class 5A state tournament, sat courtside as Arapahoe and Montbello lost to lower seeds Thursday.

But after a brief scare from upset-minded Poudre, the Trojans cruised to a 59-51 win in a Sweet 16 game.

"We know anybody can win any night," said Aurora Central point guard Sean Cunningham, whose team was upset by Cherry Creek in the Elite Eight last season and will play the Bruins again Saturday.

"Our thing is just stay strong, stay together. Me and Steven (Franklin), we're going to ride this thing out, we're going to lead our team."

Cunningham scored a game-best 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting, Franklin added 11 and Chris Kelly had 10 points and nine rebounds.

Fourth-seeded Poudre (17-8) led 18-16 midway through the second quarter, but the Impalas' leading scorers - Dallas Elmore and Anthony Crenshaw - each went to the bench with three fouls. Aurora Central closed the half with a 13-2 run and the Impalas never recovered.

The Trojans pushed the lead to 37-22 early in the second half to silence the throngs of Poudre fans who had made the short trip from Fort Collins. Poudre didn't cut the margin to fewer than eight the rest of the way.

"It was like playing a big-time road game, which we don't mind," Aurora Central coach Bob Caton said.

Crenshaw led Poudre with 20 points, Trevor Shaw had a game-best 11 rebounds and Elmore had 13 points despite playing only 18:47.

Cunningham played all 32 minutes and Franklin sat out only 1:09.

"Sean had the great game and Steven is always there," Caton said.

Poudre......12	8	11	20	-	51
Aurora Central......14	15	14	16	-	59

P - Jamie Fulgencio 2 0-0 4, Anthony Crenshaw 7 5-7 20, Dante Roberts 0 0-1 0, Trevor Shaw 4 0-0 8, Dallas Elmore 5 1-2 13, Wade Casey 0 0-0 0, Anthony Rodriguez 2 0-0 6, Patrick Casey 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 6-10 51.

AC - Sean Cunningham 9 5-6 24, Stephen Franklin 2 6-10 11, Caston Mabin 2 2-2 6, Chris Kelly 4 2-5 10, Joseph Goyer 0 0-0 0, Josh Bond 0 0-1 0, Brock Veasley 3 2-4 8. Totals 20 17-28 59.

Three-point goals -P, Elmore 2, Rodriguez 2, Crenshaw. AC, Cunningham, Franklin.

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