Championship finals rarely generate the anticipation of the Class 5A title game between Aurora Central and Denver East. The former is a team resurrected from ashes, while the latter always is considered title material.

The game, scheduled to tip off at 8 tonight at the University of Colorado's Coors Events Center, is a dream matchup. Aurora Central was ranked No. 1 in the preseason by the Rocky Mountain News, and Denver East was No. 2.

"It will be a great game," Aurora Central coach Bob Caton said. "It's great to have two schools like East and Aurora Central in the basketball finals."

The Trojans took that top ranking and lived up to it with a 27-0 record. Several years ago, Aurora Central suffered through a winless season before Caton arrived.

Since Rudy Carey took over the coaching reins at Denver East, the Angels have won three largest-classification championships, more than any other school. The Angels (23-3) might not have the unblemished record of the Trojans, but they have looked like the best team around in the past two weeks.

Each team features several quality players.

The Trojans have been led all season by two seniors, Stephen Franklin and Sean Cunningham. But the team would not have beaten Mullen in their semifinal game without key contributions from 6-foot-4 junior forward Caston Mabin, who led the team with 14 points and 16 rebounds.

"Caston has the heart of a warrior," Caton said. "He has springs; he hops real well. So, it was just a super job."

Caton also received big contributions from 6-foot junior shooting guard Davy Johnson (10 points, five rebounds), 6-5 senior forward Josh Bond (11 points, 11 rebounds) and 5-10 junior reserve guard Brock Veasley (nine points, three assists).

Every one of those game totals exceeded what each player averaged during the regular season.

The Angels received a performance from one of their own just as fine as Mabin's. Senior guard Donell Wells scored 24 points against Doherty in their semifinal game.

Wells is not an unheralded player who came off the bench to deliver a great performance. He is the 11th-leading scorer in 5A, averaging 18.8 points. But he had a clutch game, hitting four of seven three-pointers against the Spartans.

Caton, still caught up in the win against Mullen, declined to comment about Denver East on Thursday night. Carey, though, said the Angels expected to meet Aurora Central in the final.

"They do a lot of things well, but I think we have better guards," Carey said. "We're going to try a little press and back into our 3-2 zone."

The Angels have a three- guard setup, with Wells, Blake Swain and Jamiko Verner.

Neither team will have a prototypical post, as their tallest players often stay out on the perimeter.

Franklin is a swingman for Aurora Central and 6-5 junior Mookey Gilbert is a three-point threat from the corner for Denver East.

pearcea@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5352