Arvada – Sean McDougal couldn’t wait to telephone his coach and tell him about Saturday night’s game.
Unsung Arvada West, continuing without coach Eddie Reeves, who’s battling cancer, stunned visiting No. 5 Rocky Mountain 69-66 in Class 5A nonleague play. The Wildcats improved to 15-6, ended the Lobos’ 10-game winning streak and felt good about sending something positive their ailing coach’s way.
“We talk to him every couple of days,” McDougal said. “It’s hard, he’s our leader and a great guy. Coach (Jim) Thyfault has been doing a great job taking over. It has been hard without (Reeves), but he tells us to do the same stuff as if he were here. But when I call him, he’s going to have a heart attack when he hears about this one.”
Or jump up and down as the Wildcats played their best game of the season. They took an early lead, weathered an assortment of moves by the Lobos (the Front Range League champions) and ruined the return of Lobos coach Bruce Dick to Jefferson County, where he led Green Mountain for 24 years.
McDougal scored 10 consecutive Wildcats points in the second quarter, including an off-balance 3-pointer at the buzzer for a 35-27 halftime lead.
Rocky Mountain stayed close behind Jacob Houghton (23 points) and Marcus Coldiron (19), but led only once in the second half and couldn’t get beyond four ties in the closing minutes.
McDougal set up Chris Biren for a layup that gave A-West the lead for good at 62-60 with 1:27 to play. Also, Biren and McDougal each made two key free throws in the final minute. Guard Tyler Thyfault added 16 points. Like Biren, he scored six in the fourth quarter.
“We’re waiting for (Reeves) to come back,” Biren said. “We’re thinking about him.”
Dick offered no excuses: “We were flat, but take nothing from Arvada West. They played hard. And Eddie’s in our prayers.”
Rocky Mountain 15 12 17 22 – 66
Arvada West 19 16 14 20 – 69
Rocky Mountain – Coldiron 7 3-3 19, Jac. Houghton 11 1-3 23, Wahlfeldt 2 0-0 4, Jar. Houghton 1 0-0 2, Gutting 2 0-0 4, Jones 1 1-2 3, House 4 2-2 11. Totals 28 7-10 66.
Arvada West – Vinnolla 4 1-3 9, Thyfault 5 3-4 16, McDougal 6 2-2 17, Marshall 3 2-2 8, Biren 2 2-2 6, Zendejas 2 0-0 5, Ullrich 0 0-0 0, Amin 3 2-3 8, Evans 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 12-16 69.
3-pt. goals – Coldiron 2, House; McDougal 3, Thyfault 3, Zendejas. Total fouls – Rocky Mountain 15, Arvada West 17. Fouled out – Marshall. Technicals – Rocky Mountain Coach Dick.
