Wiley Burkett is doing what he needs to do to keep Cheyenne Mountain in its place as the top Class 4A lacrosse team in the state.
The senior scored six goals as the No. 1-ranked Indians beat No. 5 Air Academy 17-8 on Friday night.
What started as a competitive battle of top teams, Cheyenne Mountain only led 2-1 after the first quarter. But the offense found its groove from that point on, scoring 15 goals over the 36 minutes of play.
Ike Eastburn and James LaCerte contributed three goals a piece in the win.
Cheyenne Mountain (12-2 overall, 6-0 4A Southern) has a chance to wrap up an undefeated league slate when it plays Pueblo West on Monday.
A roundup of Jeffco prep highlights from April with Dennis Pleuss, Jeffco Public Schools’ Communication Specialist. This month’s edition features a trio of Jeffco League soccer games involving Wheat Ridge, Chatfield, Ralston Valley, Columbine and Arvada West, along with baseball action between Wheat Ridge and Arvada West. Lacrosse in Jeffco has heated up. Ralston Valley defeated Golden in boys lacrosse, while Chatfield girls lacrosse dominated in non-league action. We also give a reminder to all of how spring weather in Colorado treats prep sports.
ARVADA — A tough triple-overtime loss last week made it an uphill climb for Golden boys lacrosse to claim the Class 4A Foothills League title.
However, the Demons — No. 7 in the latest CHSAANow.com 4A boys lacrosse rankings — showed Wednesday night they aren’t going to let the setback against No. 4 Green Mountain keep Golden from finishing strong in conference play.
Golden senior Joe Brock (16) attempts to keep his balance while getting checked by Littleton senior Rito Ortiz. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“I think we kind of cleaned the slate,” Golden defenseman Ben Brock said after the Demons’ 12-5 victory Wednesday over Littleton at the North Area Athletic Complex. “That stuff is in the past and we just have to move forward.”
The loss to Green Mountain (8-1, 2-0 in 4A Foothills) last Friday night put the Rams in position to win their first ever conference title in boys lacrosse. Green Mountain has league games remaining against Evergreen, Conifer and Littleton.
“We are definitely Evergreen fans tonight,” said Golden coach Mike Thumim, who was planning on heading up to Trailblazer Stadium to take in the 7:30 p.m. game between Evergreen and Green Mountain. “If they can beat Green Mountain and we beat Evergreen it would be a three-way tie and we’ll go from there.”
Thumim admits the loss to Green Mountain still stings.
Golden junior Carson Brzeczek, left, maneuvers behind the goal while getting checked by Littleton junior Ethan Hansen. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“It still kind of lingers,” Thumim said. “(Green Mountain goalie Ryan Burdi) probably had the greatest high school goalie performance I’ve ever seen in 21 years. He had 20 saves.”
Golden found the back of the net plenty of times against Littleton in the first game of the doubleheader at NAAC. Ben Kirschner was a scoring machine for the Demons. The sophomore attacker scored five goals, including three straight from the end of the second quarter until late in the third quarter as Golden extended its lead to 9-2.
“He (Kirschner) finally broke out. He is a good kid and works hard,” Thumim said. “I call him bacon because bacon makes everything better.”
Golden sophomore goalie Kyle desGarennes was solid in net for the Demons. Littleton (6-6, 2-1) came into the game undefeated in league play, but still has to face the likes of Evergreen and Green Mountain.
Golden junior Kevin Mulligan (32) moves the ball up field against Littleton senior Tyler Ervin. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Golden (7-6, 2-1) finishes off its conference schedule against Evergreen and Conifer over the next week. The Demons did sit No. 7 in the RPI standings before Wednesday’s win over Littleton, so a playoff berth really isn’t in question for Golden.
“We’ve been so up and down this year, we are just trying to put together a little winning streak. Any win at this point is something we’ll take,” Thumim said. “We still talk about Cheyenne Mountain last year coming in to the state tournament as the No. 7 seed and winning it all.”
Still, Golden would like to get its hands on a conference title before starting its playoff run.
“It kind of takes a toll on you to scoreboard watch,” Brock said. “Hopefully we can still get that league championship.”
Littleton sophomore Nick Schreiber is sandwiched by Golden’s Ben Brock, left, and Dylan Maddox during the first half Wednesday at the NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
ARVADA — Columbine football coach Andy Lowry doesn’t have to worry … Tanner Hollens has no intention of focusing solely on lacrosse anytime soon.
“I’m going to stick with both sports,” Hollens said with a smile after scoring four goals in a span of less than three minutes Wednesday night. “I love them both.”
Ralston Valley junior Ben Takata (11) tries to maintain control of the ball despite the efforts of Columbine defender Cody Heston (6) on Wednesday night at NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
The attacker on the lacrosse field is more well-known for his actions on the football field. The running back for the Rebels during the fall has racked up more than 2,500 yards rushing and scored 31 touchdowns during his sophomore and junior seasons on the gridiron.
“Tanner is definitely a football player, but he loves lacrosse,” Columbine boys lacrosse coach Henry Sulzbacher said of the two-sport athlete. “He loves being out here playing. It’s awesome. He is just a competitor.”
Hollens rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries the last time he was in helmet facing Ralston Valley at the North Area Athletic Complex during the football season. He had way against the Mustangs again in a must-win Class 5A Jeffco League boys lacrosse game.
The junior’s scoring spree helped Columbine cruise to a 13-1 victory over Ralston Valley at the NAAC. Hollens scored three goals in the span of less than a minute to close out the second quarter, giving the Rebels (7-5, 4-1 in 5A Jeffco) a 7-1 lead at halftime.
Columbine attacker Taylor Gustafson tries to pass the ball to a teammate while on the ground and with Ralston Valley junior Ryan Diesslin covering him. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“I just knew we had to step it up,” Hollens said of sparking what would be 11 unanswered goals by the Rebels. “That first quarter we were kind of slow.”
Columbine — No. 9 in the current CHSAANow.com 5A boys lacrosse rankings — couldn’t afford another loss in conference play. A 9-8 loss to Lakewood two days early at Trailblazer Stadium put Valor Christian (13-0, 6-0) in the driver’s seat to claim the league title and automatic berth into the 16-team state tournament.
“That wasn’t our best game of the season for sure,” Hollens said of the one-goal loss to Lakewood. “We just have to keep winning and hopefully make the playoffs. We’ve got a tough schedule ahead, but I think we can do it.”
Columbine finishes out league play against Dakota Ridge (Friday, April 26) and Valor (Monday, April 29). Both games will be at Trailblazer Stadium in Lakewood.
Sulzbacher admitted he will be rooting hard for Wheat Ridge to knock of Lakewood coming up on Friday. That could set up a three-way tie for the league title if Columbine defeats undefeated Valor on Monday.
Columbine needs to defeat Dakota Ridge and Valor to wrap up its conference schedule for any hope to win the 5A Jeffco League title. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“Who knows how the RPI is going to shake out,” Sulzbacher said. “We are in the playoffs right now, but Valor doesn’t matter unless we take care of business against Dakota Ridge. Right now it’s all about Dakota Ridge.”
Columbine was No. 22 in the RPI standings before games Wednesday. Close losses to No. 7 ranked Regis Jesuit, Chaparral, No. 5 ranked Kent Denver and Lakewood could come back to haunt the Rebels if they don’t make the postseason.
Sulzbacher hopes the strong performance against Ralston Valley (6-6, 1-4) can carryover to the end of the regular season that also includes a non-league game against No. 1 Cherry Creek on May 1.
“We looked good today,” Sulzbacher said. “Guys were playing hard. The vibe was different today and that was good.”
Columbine junior Tanner Hollens splits Ralston Valley freshmen Nick Gates (19) and Lane Kellogg (20) during the first half Wednesday at the NAAC. Hollens scored four goals in less than three minutes during the Rebels’ 13-1 victory. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
