Greeley – The epitome of solid team basketball was evident at an all-star game, of all places.
Ralston Valley coach Mitch Conrad stressed to his White team to share the ball. That’s just what happened Saturday, and seven of his 11 players scored in double figures in a 108-87 rout of the Blue team in the championship game of the Colorado All-State Games at Butler-Hancock Pavilion.
“I didn’t really know what to expect. This was my first All-State Games, as well,” said Conrad, who guided the Mustangs to the Class 4A state title game in March. “I just asked them to share the ball, and we started practicing that Day One and it got everybody involved.”
Grandview’s 6-foot-9 Josh Riddle led all scorers with 19 points for the White team, capping the night with a long- awaited dunk. After back-to- back hard fouls on fast breaks, Riddle was finally left alone to soar to the rim.
“The first time, they fouled me pretty hard, but it was nice to finally get up and get one,” said Riddle, who will play next season at Northfield (Mass.) Mount Hermon prep school. “I thought we moved the ball well and moved the ball as a team, and that’s how we won.”
The White team received 12 points each from Haxtun’s Grant Edwards, Weld Central’s Tommy Klausner and Durango’s Matt Morris.
The Blue team, coached by Lyons’ Jason Maguire and Pine Creek’s Dick Castle, tied the game at 37 midway through the second quarter. But the White team went on a 20-4 run and pulled away.
Ignacio guard Derek Rodriguez led the Blue team with 13 points.
Blue 19 22 24 22 – 87
White 22 35 21 30 – 108
Blue – Benson (Hi-Plains) 1 0-0 2, Rodriguez (Ignacio) 3 4-4 13, Bajcar (Monarch) 3 0-0 7, Register (Harrison) 2 0-0 6, Duran (John Mall) 3 0-0 8, Hunt (Pine Creek) 2 1-2 5, Megyeri (Manitou Springs) 5 0-0 11, Holocher (Jefferson Academy) 3 1-2 10, Isenbart (Stratton) 2 3-5 7, Anderson (Montezuma-Cortez) 4 0-0 8, Mullen (Lyons) 5 0-2 10. Totals 33 9-15 87.
White – Hildreth (Roosevelt) 1 0-0 2, Webber (Ralston Valley) 3 0-0 8, Thrall (Granada) 3 0-0 8, McKinley (Grand Valley) 1 1-2 4, Hinson (Rye) 5 0-0 11, Edwards (Haxtun) 6 0-0 12, Pottorff (Greeley West) 4 2-2 10, Riddle (Grandview) 8 2-2 19, Ziemer (Faith Christian) 3 2-2 10, Klausner (Weld Central) 5 2-2 12, Morris (Durango) 4 4-5 12. Totals 43 13-15 108.
3-point goals – Rodriguez 3, Holocher 3, Register 2, Duran 2, Bajcar, Megyeri; Webber 2, Thrall 2, Ziemer 2, McKinley, Hinson. Total fouls – Blue 15, White 11. Fouled out – Mullen. Technical fouls – None.
