Fort Collins – Rocky Mountain’s girls basketball team nearly let its large lead slip away at the hands of Legacy’s Melissa Jones.
But the Lobos, who come in waves and from all angles, held Class 5A’s leading scorer in check just enough to walk away with a 46-38 victory in a Front Range League game Friday night at The Den.
Rocky Mountain, undefeated and No. 3 in The Denver Post/9News poll, watched a 16-point, second-half lead dwindle to one late in the fourth quarter before awakening and sinking clutch free throws.
“We kind of lost track of Jones for a little bit,” Rocky Mountain’s Alana Curtis said.
The Lobos (14-0, 3-0) played their usual brand of team ball. Junior Jocelyn Zarling came off the bench for a team-high 13 points and gave her team a much-needed boost with a 3-pointer late in the game. Stephanie Hejde, Bayley Chevron and Curtis each scored eight points, and Hejde grabbed 13 rebounds.
No. 6 Legacy (10-3, 1-1), on the other hand, was a one-player attraction for the most part. Jones finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds and four steals. She scored 16 consecutive points for the Lightning, and the only other scorers for Legacy were Jacki Cella (nine points, all in the second half) and Brenna Mathews (five points). Jones also had three assists.
Despite the second-half rally, it was too heavy a burden for one player to carry.
“We knew we had to focus on (Jones). But we don’t have a star player. Our whole bench could start, and anybody on the team could have a 20-point night,” Hejde said.
Legacy scored the first basket and then watched as the Lobos ran the score to 14-3.
Early in the third quarter, Rocky Mountain led 28-12 and Legacy seemingly could not answer. Until, that is, Jones scored three consecutive baskets that would trigger an 18-4 run that ended with Jones’ steal and layup that made the score 32-30 with 5:52 left to play.
“We had our opportunities. We just didn’t finish,” Jones said. “It seems like we played a little timid (at the start).”
With 1:21 on the clock, Jones responded to a 3-pointer by Zarling with one of her own to make it 37-36. Mathews hit two free throws to make it 40-38 Rocky Mountain with 24.3 seconds to play, but that is as close as it would get.
Legacy 3 9 14 12 – 38
Rocky Mountain 12 12 8 14 – 46
Legacy – Jones 10 0-1 24, Cosgrove 0 0-0 0, Cella 4 1-2 9, Morton 0 0-2 0, Mathews 1 3-6 5, Mick 0 0-0 0, Schoner 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 4-11 38.
Rocky Mountain – Hejde 4 0-0 8, Chevron 3 2-4 8, Ar. Curtis 2 2-5 6, Glisan 1 1-2 3, Al. Curtis 4 0-0 8, Zarling 4 2-2 13, Gleiforst 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 7-13 46.
3-pt. goals – Jones 4; Zarling 3. Total fouls – Legacy 15; Rocky Mountain 11. Fouled out – None. Technicals – None.
