Feature photo by Sebastian Wiegand: Junor Elijah Blake watches a free throw. Blake has been one of the catalysts for the the Raiders averaging 10.3 points per game.
By Sebastian Wiegand, Sports Editor
For the sixth consecutive season, the Rangeview boys’ basketball team has made it to the sweet sixteen. However, there is one key difference between this year and the last five seasons. This year the Raiders have yet to lose and come into the sweet sixteen with a record of 24-0.
The Raiders earned the appearance after dominating a young Chaparral team in the second round and now the top-ranked Raiders will be tasked with keeping the trio of seniors from fifth-seeded Arvada West High School in check. The Trio — Dallas Walton, Luke Neff and Will Wittman — have combined for over 70% of the points scored by the Wildcats. They also have combined to pull in 75% of the team’s rebounds.
Two of the three have already committed to play Division I basketball, Seven foot tall Dallas Walton signed with CU Boulder while his teammate Luke Neff is signed to play at the University of Denver.
“We have to be physical with him (Dallas Walton) and keep him out of the paint,” said Senior Tyrie Randall.
Arvada West finished the regular season with a record of 15-8 and are fresh off of playoff wins against Castle View and Grandview. The Wildcats have won their last three games. Despite the fact that they have seven losses they are still a formidable foe, with five of their seven losses coming by ten points or less.
Rangeview comes into the game off one of their best defense halves of the year. Their game vs. Chaparral started close and the teams were deadlocked with the Raiders on top 9-8 at the end of the first quarter. The Raiders then picked it up and lead the Wolverines by a score of 30-19 at halftime.
After halftime Rangeview could do no wrong as they held Chaparral to just two points in the third quarter. The fourth quarter didn’t go any better for the Wolverines as they were held to just five points en route to a 63-26 win for Rangeview.
Jalen Guidry kept everyone involved as he threw seven assists and added four points. Senior EJ Reed also did his part as he paced the Raiders with 13 points and six rebounds.
On Wednesday Rangeview will be looking not to repeat what happened last year in the sweet sixteen. Last year the second-seeded Raiders hosted the sixth-seeded Denver East Angels, Angels point guard Brian Carey — now at Texas Southern — went off for 35 points and eight assists as the Angels upset the Raiders 84-75.
“We gotta be ready to compete against whoever we play,” said Senior EJ Reed.
The Raiders and Wildcats will tip off tomorrow at 7:00 pm at Rangeview High School.
