Wrapping up Monday’s top action
The second week of Colorado hoops started off in style as a Monday, not typically a huge night for high school basketball, featured several big-time showdowns. Here is a wrap-up of the top games we were able to gather information about:…
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Continue ReadingThe second week of Colorado hoops started off in style as a Monday, not typically a huge night for high school basketball, featured several big-time showdowns. Here is a wrap-up of the top games we were able to gather information about:
Pueblo Central 90, Falcon 88 (OT)
In one of the more impressive individual performances ever in Colorado, senior guard Mike Ranson exploded for 59 points, tied for the sixth-most in a game in state history, according to CHSAA record books. Ranson drained a game-tying three to force overtime, he hit a game-winner to clinch it, and he cashed 19-of-19 from the charity stripe and hit eight three-pointers.
With Kobi Betts, an Air Force recruit, out for the season with a torn meniscus and partially torn ACL, Ranson has carried the load in a big way while averaging 40.6 points through five games. The Northern Colorado signee led all classifications in scoring as a junior at a clip of 25.6, but it was a close race for the scoring title. That might not be the case this year. Ranson could become one of the first 4A or 5A players to average 30 or more points per game for an entire season. The Wildcats, who had close losses to tough 4A squads Lewis-Palmer, Vista Peak, and Golden, earned a nice road win to move to 2-3. 6-foot-6 senior forward Noah Saunders had four dunks and over 20 points in the loss for Falcon (1-2).
Denver South 65, Greeley West 59
Facing a fourth 5A team in five games, the Rebels nudged past the Spartans in the first round of the Fairview Festival as 6-foot-6 senior forward Chudier Bile racked up 28 points and 10 rebounds. Rayshawn Kennedy chipped in 14 points, 9 rebounds and Jamison Jendrusch had 9 points and 10 assists for a South team that improved to 3-2. Cordell Gillingham poured in 22 points on 10-of-17 shooting in the loss. Darren DeLaCroix and Connor Thompson finished with 12 points apiece. Freshman point guard Andre Sepeda had 7 points and 6 assists for a West team that fell to 3-2.
Boulder 60, George Washington 51
The Panthers have some bite to them as they moved to 3-0 this season with a solid victory over a young but extremely talented Patriots team. Boulder went 19-of-24 from the line as Luke Wilson scored 15, Ben Posthumus had 14 and Landon Taliaferro had 11. The Panthers look like one of the top teams in the Front Range League. Daylen Kountz (14 points), Jon’il Fugett (14) and Jervay Green (11) led the way in another frustrating loss for GW, who fell to a surprising 1-4. The Patriots have had single-digit losses to some of the state’s best teams, Overland, Chatfield and Cherokee Trail, as well.
Aurora Central 48, Monarch 44
The Trojans held off the Coyotes at the Fairview Festival as one of Colorado’s best tandems, Elijah Coleman and Ladarius Thomas, had excellent games. Coleman scored 21 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Thomas had 15 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals. He also buried 9-of-11 from the charity stripe. Aurora Central is now 4-1 on the season.
Broomfield 57, Sierra 40
The Eagles moved to 2-0 after building a 30-18 halftime lead and cruising to an easy win over the Stallions at the Fairview Festival. Broomfield, who also led 42-20 after three, got 15 points out of Kyle Rynearson. Devin Martinez and Sam Foster each had 10. The Eagles will face Aurora Central at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday in the next round of the tourney.
Mountain Range 67, Mullen 57
The Mustangs, now 1-3, notched their first win of the season as junior guard Max Castillo finished with 22 points and 8 rebounds. Matteo Busnardo racked up 23 points in a loss that dropped Mullen to 1-1. Both Castillo and Busnardo are ranked in our top-65 prospects in 2017.
Fort Lupton 77, Erie 75
Down 20 points to begin the 4th, the Blue Devils roared back by outscoring the Tigers 30-12 in the final quarter. According to coach Jim Roedel, senior PG Patrick Vasquez scored 25 of his 38 points in the final eight minutes. Fort Lupton improved their record to 1-2, while Erie dropped to 0-3.