Arvada –The Ralston Valley-Golden rivalry has become one of the hottest tickets in Jefferson County hoops.
Friday’s game was hot enough to set off the fire alarm, forcing the evacuation of the gymnasium and a 28-minute delay.
When the game resumed, fourth-ranked Ralston Valley wasted little time burning the No. 7 Demons with a patient offense and solid defense to cruise to a 69-45 Class 4A victory before a packed house.
The Mustangs (12-3, 1-0) led by 10 in the second quarter and took a 15-point lead into the fourth quarter before blowing out the cold-shooting Demons in the final eight minutes.
Senior guard Jon Bailon knocked down four 3-pointers to finish with 18 points, and senior forward Casey Murphy added 11 points as the Mustangs won their third straight.
Golden (7-8, 0-1) went 2-1 last season against Ralston Valley and knocked the Mustangs out of the state tournament en route to a berth in the semifinals. Although the game had all the makings of a physical grudge match, Mustangs coach Mitch Conrad said revenge was not a big deal.
“We didn’t even talk about that very much,” Conrad said. “We’re pointed toward winning the league and trying to make a run at state.”
Fresh off going 2-1 against ranked opponents in last week’s Skyline/Jeffco League Challenge, the Demons broke down offensively, missing plenty of easy shots in the paint and forcing tough shots from the perimeter. Golden shot just 32 percent from the field, including a 1-for-10 run to start the fourth quarter that fueled the Mustangs’ rout.
Guard Sean Stokes led the Demons with 18 points, while standouts Jason Nye and Matt King were held to just eight and two points, respectively.
The Mustangs used a four-basket burst to bury the Demons late in the third quarter. Guard Grant Hamilton made consecutive 3-pointers, Kevin Webber hit another and forward Tyler Braketa got a steal and layup as time expired to put Ralston Valley up 50-35.
Conrad said the intense rivalry was born out of the Mustangs’ success under current Nevada standout and NBA prospect Nick Fazekas, who led Ralston Valley to a state title in 2003.
“They used to come and just beat the crap out of (Fazekas) and they would heckle him, and that just got everything fired up,” Conrad said. “Ever since then, it’s just never died down.”
Golden 9 11 15 10 – 45
Ralston Valley 15 13 22 19 – 69
Golden – J. Campbell 2 0-1 4, Benoy 0 0-0 0, Stokes 5 6-10 18, Nye 4 0-1 8, Hayes 0 0-1 0, Smith 3 0-0 8, Wegscheider 1 0-0 3, Chapman 0 0-0 0, King 0 2-4 2, Tilden 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 8-17 45.
Ralston Valley – Johnson 2 2-2 7, Bailon 7 0-0 18, Braketa 3 0-1 6, Skipper 3 0-0 6, Meiklejohn 0 1-2 1, Murphy 5 5-6 15, Hamilton 2 1-2 7, Webber 1 2-2 5, Purfield 0 2-2 2, Gonzales 0 1-2 1, Jones 0 1-2 1. Totals 23 15-21 69.
3-point goals – Smith 2, Stokes 2, Wegscheider; Bailon 4, Hamilton 2, Johnson, Webber. Total fouls – Golden 21, Ralston Valley 15. Fouled out – None. Technicals – None.
