Feature Photo By: Justin Morris – Senior guard Matthew Johnson dribbles the ball up the court as he is guarded by junior Eric Jackson. Johnson is the only returning player who saw significant playing time last year.
Last season, the Raider boys basketball team went on a 26 game win streak until a heartbreaking loss during the Final Four game of the playoffs. Even though the Raiders were nearly undefeated a year ago, that streak is in the past.
This new season is full of expectations for the Rangeview basketball team. The team finished 4th overall in the state last year according to Maxpreps, but this preseason, CHSAA has Rangeview listed outside of the top ten.
The team lost many key players as their 2016 senior class graduated, including four starters. Star players Tyrei Randall, Elijah Reed, Kris Hollins, and Jalen Guidry have all graduated, and the question if their absence will affect the team greatly has arisen.
To add to missing players, is returning senior point guard and University of Denver commit, Elijah Blake. He has torn his ACL recently and will be out for the remainder of the season. Read more about the affect his absence will play on the team this season here.
Without Blake, the entire starting lineup and the record-breaking season last year will be diminished.
Senior Matthew Johnson has been given large shoes to fill since the starting point guard role has been left open. As a captain and a leader, the team expects him to step up to the challenge.
“I need to be more of a leader, more vocal, and set an example,” said Johnson, “It’s my job to lead them, make them better and push them to the limit.”
Although, the team has taken large hits from last year, they have made some new additions to the team. The Raiders have added three freshmen to the varsity roster, who are all listed over six feet tall.
When asked whether the gameplan would change after losing Elijah Blake and a large majority of last year’s varsity roster, Head Coach Palmer stated, “What we do as a team doesn’t change.”
The Rangeview basketball team will take on Palmer High School at Highlands Ranch High School during a tournament this Friday for their first game of the regular season.
The season opener for the Raiders is on Tuesday at home against Dakota Ridge High School at 7 pm. This is their first game on a newly revamped gymnasium, which you can learn more about here.
Stay up to date with all of the latest scores and stats during the Rangeview basketball season on the Raider Review website, twitter page, and Maxpreps:
Subscribe to the Raider Review: http://rangeviewraiders.info/?page_id=5741
Rangeview Review Twitter Page: https://twitter.com/RangeviewReview?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Maxpreps: http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/rangeview-raiders-(aurora,co)/basketball/home.htm
