Five Takeaways: Longmont versus Silver Creek
On Wednesday night, the Longmont and Mead boys basketball teams got together for a good old fashioned cross-town rivalry game at Silver Creek High School in Longmont. The contest between last year’s top two 4A Northern League teams was close…
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Continue ReadingOn Wednesday night, the Longmont and Mead boys basketball teams got together for a good old fashioned cross-town rivalry game at Silver Creek High School in Longmont. The contest between last year’s top two 4A Northern League teams was close early before No. 2-ranked Longmont, the defending 4A state championship, pulled away for a 65-36 win.
Here are five things that stood out from the game.
The Longmont Trojans are tough as ever
Few people picked Longmont to win the 4A state title last season but the Trojans got it done. This winter, they appear to have carried over the same momentum they built last season in order to take home the trophy and are undefeated. Without a clear superstar player like some Trojans teams have had in the past, this year’s team plays fast and energetic defense typical of a Jeff Kloster-coached club. Through 11 games, the Trojans are allowing just 41.5 points per game.
Brady Renck could have been a hoops prospect
If not for his love of baseball, which he has committed to play at Westmont College next year, Longmont senior Brady Renck might have had a shot to play basketball at the next level. A quick, explosive 5-foot-11 guard, Renck has excellent ball-handling skills and attacks the rim with purpose and aggression. He has a good feel for finishing around the basket and averages 12.1 points per game to go with 7.4 assists. The senior is also a tough defender and leads the Trojans with 3.5 steals a night.
Silver Creek feeling the absence of Andrew Duquette
Right in the midst of a week in which the Raptors will play three ranked opponents in four days, junior point guard Andrew Duquette suffered a high ankle sprain during a 39-37 loss to No. 10 Centaurus on Tuesday night. Before his injury, Duquette (6-5, 155 pounds) was averaging 15.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.4 steals per game. He also shoots 44 percent from 3-point distance. Against Longmont, the absence of Duquette’s scoring, energy and playmaking ability was noticeable. The Raptors are hoping their senior point guard can return in a month.
Beck Page will be a nice shooting addition for some college program
Already off to a hot start in 2018-19, Longmont senior shooting guard Beck Page has made 42 percent (33 for 78) of his 3-point shots through 11 games. The 6-foot-3 shooting specialist has good size and a strong enough frame to hold his own on defense, and is comfortable shooting the ball from all over the court. He is leading the Trojans with 14.5 points a night and 61 percent of his total scoring output has come via the 3-pointer. He is Prep Hoops Colorado’s 70th-ranked player in the 2019 graduating class.
Charlie Belcher is stuffing the stat sheet for Silver Creek
He may be only 5-foot-10 but senior guard Charlie Belcher has been making an impact in a number of ways for Silver Creek this season. Through nine games played, Belcher has averaged 16.4 points, 2.2 assists. 4.3 rebounds and 1.9 steals. Against Longmont on Tuesday night, he scored 11 points and has a season high of 26 points, which he scored against Littleton on Dec. 8. When Belcher scores 15 or more points, the Raptors are 5-1. When he doesn’t, they are 1-4.