CHSAANow

Category: Boys Basketball

  • No. 10 Golden boys basketball stays hot with win over No. 7 Evergreen

    GOLDEN — Timing is everything.

    Golden’s boys basketball team has picked the right time to be playing its best basketball of the season. The Demons — No. 10 in the CHSAANow.com Class 4A rankings — won their seventh straight game Friday night with a 61-49 home victory over No. 7 Evergreen.

    “We are a young team. It’s coming together,” said Golden sophomore Aliou Diallo, who scored a game-high 17 points. “When we start hitting shots we are a scary team.”

    The Demons are frightening young with no seniors this year. Despite the youth, Golden (10-2 record) has put itself in position for a home seed for the state tournament that begins Tuesday, March 9.

    Evergreen senior Griffin Lauritano (1) went over the 1,000-point career scoring mark Friday night. Lauritano had 15 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Cougars suffered a road loss to Golden. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “It would be awesome,” Golden coach Lou Vullo said of possibility having a home game to open the playoffs. “We could be dangerous.”

    After back-to-back losses three weeks ago against Evergreen and Green Mountain, the Demons have been unbeatable. The Cougars (9-3) had already won the 4A Jeffco League title with a 7-1 conference record and having defeated Golden and Green Mountain during conference play.

    However, the Demons jumped out to a 22-12 lead after the first quarter and never looked back on its home court Friday night.

    “Our mindset was just to get revenge,” Golden sophomore Alan Acevedo said of facing Evergreen again.

    Evergreen senior Griffin Lauritano led the charge for the Cougars in the second quarter cutting the Demons’ lead to 32-29 at halftime. Lauritano actually went over the 1,000-point career scoring mark in the second quarter. He finished with 15 points, but fouled out midway through the fourth quarter.

    The start of the third quarter was key. Diallo drained a 3-pointer on the opening possession of the second half and sunk another basket in the first minute of the third quarter to extend Golden’s lead to 37-29.

    “It was really big. We talked about it at halftime to come out focused like we were in the first quarter,” Diallo said.

    Golden junior Richie Pruett rips down a rebound during the Demons’ 7th straight victory Friday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Senior Jackson Mott had 14 points for the Cougars, but Golden’s defense wouldn’t allow Evergreen to get within striking distance.

    “We have really been focusing on defense,” Vullo said after the Demons held the Cougars to just six made field goals in the second half Friday night. “Our defense was pitiful at the start. We’ve started to pick it up a little bit.”

    Juniors Zach Weiler had a driving layup and Logan Brewer made a pair of free throws to close out the quarter for the Demons.

    “We preach to the boys that it is super important how you start and end the quarter,” Vullo said. “We started and ended that third quarter well.”

    Vullo actually hit a milestone himself this week. He picked up his 250th career varsity high school coaching victory with Wednesday’s win over Conifer.

    Golden is Vullo’s third career coaching stop. He spent five years at Sheridan, nine years at Pinnacle and is in his third season coaching the Demons. It’s likely Golden will make the 32-team 4A state tournament which would make Vullo 17-for-17 when it comes to qualifying his teams to the postseason.

    Evergreen senior Jackson Mott (10) goes up for a shot over Golden junior Logan Brewer (35) on Friday night at Golden High School. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Golden is on the road against Green Mountain (Monday) and Littleton (Wednesday) to wrap up things before brackets for the state tournament are released on Monday, March 8. First-round games are scheduled to begin Tuesday, March 9.

    “We feel hungry and we aren’t going to stop,” Acevedo said. “

    Green Mountain (10-2) is also hot. The No. 12 Rams have won six straight games after taking an 88-25 victory Friday night against Alameda International. Green Mountain defeated Golden 63-50 back on Feb. 3.

    “Monday is really important,” Diallo said of the rematch against Green Mountain. “That is another one we have marked on our schedule because the first time they took advantage of us.”

    Evergreen is scheduled to close out its regular season at Standley Lake (Monday) and at home against Green Mountain (Wednesday).

    Golden sophomore Alan Acevedo (30) drives the lane against Evergreen during the second half Friday night. Acevedo poured in 16 points, including four 3-pointers in the first half to help the Demons to a 61-49 victory over the Class 4A Jeffco League champions. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • Photos: Arapahoe boys basketball rallies to beat Cherokee Trail

    Arapahoe boys basketball trailed at halftime but rallied back to beat Cherokee Trail 77-64 on Friday.

  • Photos: D’Evelyn boys basketball pulls away from Littleton

    D’Evelyn boys basketball held a six-point lead heading into the fourth quarter but pulled away to beat Littleton 63-50.

  • Photos: Cronk leads No. 1 Belleview Christian boys basketball over Flatirons Academy

    John Cronk’s 26 points powered Class 1A No. 1 Belleview Christian boys basketball to a 75-55 win over Flatirons Academy.

  • Video: Jeffco Preps With Pleuss (March)

    Jeffco Preps With Pleuss is a monthly roundup of Jeffco prep highlights hosted by Dennis Pleuss, Jeffco Public Schools’ sports information director. There was plenty of boys and girls basketball action in February with Season B sports in full swing. We have boys highlights from Chatfield vs. Columbine, Green Mountain vs. Golden and D’Evelyn vs. Evergreen. Green Mountain girls basketball team improved its 4A Jeffco League winning streak to 28 conference victories over the past three seasons winning back-to-back league titles. Boys wrestling got going and we have highlights of duals involving Columbine, Lakewood, Chatfield, Pomona and Jefferson. Girls wrestling teams from Chatfield and Pomona are two of the best in the state in the first year of the being a CHSAA-sanctioned sport.

  • Photos: No. 12 Green Mountain boys basketball sneaks by D’Evelyn

    Darius Padilla and Corbin Jantzer each scored in double figures as Class 4A No. 12 Green Mountain boys basketball beat D’Evelyn 58-53.

  • Photos: Hurr’s 28 points powers Mountain View boys basketball over Roosevelt

    Alex Hurr scored 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lift Mountain View boys basketball to a 82-50 win over Roosevelt on Tuesday.

  • Photos: No. 9 Steamboat Springs boys basketball beats Summit, stays unbeaten

    4A No. 9 Steamboat Springs boys basketball beat Summit 58-47, and is now 9-0 this season.

  • Wheat Ridge boys basketball finds its range in win versus Standley Lake

    WESTMINSTER — Wheat Ridge senior Dominic Cross had a memorable night on the basketball court Monday at Standley Lake High School.

    Cross dropped a career-high 27 points as the Farmers defeated the Gators 70-42.

    “I don’t remember ever scoring 27 points in a game,” Cross said. “This year I’ve struggled shooting. Tonight I really wanted to get to the rim and get my rhythm going. It was a great team win. My teammates got me going feeding me the ball early.”

    Cross carried a heavy load in the first half scoring 18 points by halftime. The Farmers (7-4 record) held a 27-18 lead going into the break with the senior guard doing it on both ends of the court.

    Wheat Ridge senior Scotty Kingman puts in a layup during the Farmers’ 26-point fourth quarter Monday against Standley Lake. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “He (Cross) can get us going. He has the energy to do it,” Wheat Ridge coach Tommy Dowd said. “He is just a smart player. He shot the ball really well and destroyed them (Standley Lake) defensively.”

    Standley Lake (3-8) was still hanging around through three quarters trailing 44-33, but Wheat Ridge really got going offensively in the fourth quarter. The Farmers outscored the Gators 26-9 in the final 8 minutes to grab a third straight victory for Wheat Ridge.

    The Farmers finished Class 4A Jeffco League play last week with a 5-3 conference mark, good enough for tied for fourth in the league that features three teams — Evergreen, Golden and Green Mountain — ranked in the top-12 in 4A.

    “We always want to win. We want to have great momentum going into the tournament,” Cross said. “I would love to go on the road and beat some good teams, stun some people and make some noise in the tournament.”

    Wheat Ridge senior Westin Miller has been making plenty of noise this season. The future Regis University baseball player is the leading scorer in 4A Jeffco. Miller is averaging 20.4 points per game.

    However, it took awhile for Miller to find his shot against Standley Lake. The senior guard didn’t score in the first half.

    “It did come to me a little bit,” Miller said when asked if he had any thoughts of hanging up his basketball shoes for his baseball cleats at halftime after going scoreless in the opening half. “You just have to keep shooting. I just needed to get some confidence back and keep shooting. I knew they would go in.”

    Standley Lake junior Silas Von (42) goes up to block the shot of Wheat Ridge senior Kale Kissell (10) in the first half Monday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Miller got on track driving to the basket and getting fouled early in the third quarter. He made both free throws and then preceded to drain a trio of 3-pointers to finish with 11 points.

    “Just keep shooting. You’ll never make it until you shoot the next one,” Dowd told Miller at halftime. “He is one of the best shooters we’ve ever had at Wheat Ridge.”

    With the start of the high school baseball season getting pushed out until early May during this COVID-19 year, Miller can focus on the hardwood before moving onto the diamond.

    “I’ve always loved playing basketball,” Miller said. “It is always a great team sport. I love playing with my teammates and my coaches. It’s always a good time.”

    Wheat Ridge has three regular-season games left starting with No. 7-ranked Evergreen on Wednesday night on the Farmers’ home court. The Cougars took a 55-41 win over Wheat Ridge in their league match-up back on Feb. 8.

    “We hope to move up a couple of stops and see where we are at,” Dowd said of the upcoming state tournament that begins with first-round games March 5. “It’s nice to be one of the top seeds, but we’ve been pretty good going on the road and beating somebody. I’d love to go out west (Western Slope).”

    Standley Lake (3-8) was 51st in the RPI rankings to start this week. The Gators close out their regular season at Conifer on Friday night before a pair of home games next week against the 4A Jeffco League champions — Evergreen — and Alameda International.

    The Gators did have nine different players score against the Farmers. Senior Louis Ortega (9 points) and junior Silas Von (8 points) led the way for the Gators.

    Wheat Ridge senior Westin Miller (3) drives on Standley Lake defenders during the second half Monday. Miller, leading scorer in 4A Jeffco, was held scoreless in the first half, but rebounded with a trio of 3-pointers in the second half. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • Photos: No. 15 Eaglecrest boys basketball runs past No. 14 Overland

    Class 5A No. 15 Eaglecrest boys basketball found momentum and used to get to a 70-57 win over No. 14 Overland on Monday.