Longmont – The rust was expected Wednesday night after the winter break.
Mountain View’s inside game, however, turned out to be a pleasant surprise in the Mountain Lions’ 52-49 victory over Longmont.
Mountain View’s potent outside game never materialized, but the Loveland school outrebounded the taller Trojans 29-25 and blocked four shots to pick up a win in the West Division of the Class 4A Northern League.
Junior Kevin Liddle came off the bench to score 13 points and grab six rebounds, Jeremy Dickerson had nine points and nine boards and Joey Dickens grabbed eight rebounds as the Mountain Lions (5-1, 2-0) won their third straight game.
“We adjusted at halftime (because) we were getting beat inside,” Liddle said. “We just got after it and said we got to come with it to win on the road. We played scrappy and got it done.”
Longmont (4-3, 1-1) never got its perimeter game going either, but the Trojans did most of their damage by feeding the ball to Aaron Wait, Reggie Anderson and Brady Ohlsen on the blocks. Wait had a game-high 17 points and eight rebounds, and Anderson and Ohlsen combined for 14 points.
The teams combined for 37 turnovers. The Mountain Lions were more prone to cough it up in their transition game. The Trojans were sloppy in their halfcourt set.
Mountain View trailed once briefly in the second quarter and appeared to take control of the game early in the third quarter as the Trojans stalled.
Longmont turned the ball over on five of its first eight possessions and didn’t make a basket until 3:31 remained in the third quarter. The Mountain Lions took their biggest lead (37-25) on Liddle’s 3-pointer with a little more than four minutes left in the quarter before going cold from the field, shooting 4-of-19.
The Trojans cut the deficit to 39-35 to start the fourth quarter before trailing 48-46 with 2:36 remaining on Wait’s free throws.
Mountain View held the ball to eat up the clock and the Trojans couldn’t do anything with their chances down the stretch.
Although turnovers were nearly a wash, Mountain Lions coach Darin Reese was pleased with the way his team harassed the Trojans on the perimeter.
“We work, and we preach, and we teach, and we coach deflections, tips, being wise defensively,” Reese said.
Anthony Trimarco scored 13 points for Mountain View on 1-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc.
“We have two or three guys that when that shot goes up, they’ve got a nose for the ball,” Reese said. “They worked hard.”
Mountain View 17 10 12 13 – 52
Longmont 12 11 12 14 – 49
Mountain View – Dickens 2 1-2 5, Trimarco 4 4-6 13, Dickerson 4 0-0 9, Dykeman 3 0-0 6, Watkins 2 2-4 6, Liddle 4 3-5 13, Bullock 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 10-17 52.
Longmont – Aiello 1 2-6 4, Patterson 3 0-2 7, Brittenham 2 1-2 5, R. Anderson 4 0-2 8, Ohlsen 3 0-0 6, Zuege 0 2-2 2, Wait 5 7-10 17, S. Anderson 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 12-24 49.
3-pt. goals – Liddle 2, Dickerson, Trimarco; Patterson. Total fouls – Mountain View 20, Longmont 19. Fouled out – None. Technicals – None.
