Highlands Ranch – Colorado’s best player wrapped up his final regular season home game in style.
Matt Bouldin, a four-year starter who will go into state annals as one of its most productive players, scored 35 points Friday night in leading ThunderRidge to a 69-63 victory over Gateway to clinch second place in the Class 5A Continental League.
The Grizzlies head into next week’s state tournament, a 48-team field that will be set Sunday by the Colorado High School Activities Association’s seeding committee, with an 18-5 record. They were 10-1 in league with the only loss to league champion Chaparral. Gateway is 17-6, 9-2.
“I was just trying to get back in the groove,” Bouldin said.
Having battled ankle problems and leading a new cast, the Gonzaga-bound Bouldin said his “teammates are always trying to help me out, getting me the ball.”
The Grizzlies have been in the past four 5A title games, winning two and dropping the past two, but this team, Bouldin said, “when we’re clicking, moving the ball and playing run-and-gun, we can be good.”
So can Gateway, which led for much of the first half and was in position late. But missed free throws, turnovers and too much Bouldin hurt the Olympians.
“They’re extremely explosive,” ThunderRidge coach Joe Ortiz said. “(Jeff Sweet) does a great job coaching and they’ve always had discipline, but now they’re explosive.
“Get them on the other side of the bracket. I mean, wow!”
Ten of Bouldin’s points came in the fourth quarter. He also had a half-dozen sweet dishes for assists, came up with key rebounds and handled the press.
In addition to his perimeter prowess, Bouldin wasn’t stopped roaming the baseline, and in the second quarter came down one-on-five – and he got a layup.
T.J. Robinson added 14 points for ThunderRidge and Zach Tiedgen added 10, including eight in the second quarter, when it started to build a lead.
Trevor Oliver (17 points) and Greg Bolling (16) paced the Olys, who were held to two baskets over the first 6:30 of the fourth quarter.
Bouldin’s 3-pointer from the right wing put the Grizzlies ahead 47-38 midway through the third quarter as they threatened to run away and hide, but the Olys rallied to stay close.
Said Bouldin: “We just need to come out and play like we did tonight. If we run and gun, everything will be all right. It’s all elimination now.”
Gateway 16 19 13 15 – 63
ThunderRidge 15 22 16 16 – 69
Gateway – Bolling 6 3-5 16, Jack 1 0-0 2, Oliver 5 4-6 17, Smith 1 0-0 2, Hughes 1 7-10 9, Gainey 4 1-4 9, Bellachmi 2 2-2 8, McMullin 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 17-27 63.
ThunderRidge – Bouldin 10 13-14 35, Moats 2 2-4 6, Robinson 5 0-0 14, Tucker 0 0-0 0, Tiedgen 4 2-3 10, Gaiter 2 0-0 4, Becker 0 0-0 0, Jelniker 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 17-21 69.
3-pts. goals – Oliver 3, Bellachmi 2, Bolling; Robinson 4, Bouldin 2. Total fouls – Gateway 19, ThunderRidge 23. Fouled out – Hughes. Technicals – Robinson.
