FORT COLLINS — More than a few fans never made it inside Poudre’s sold-out gymnasium Tuesday night.
They missed a great game.
Rocky Mountain played hard and fast, rode a couple of big individual performances and all but stunned Poudre 74-67 to take Round I of their spirited crosstown rivalry to seize control of the Class 5A Front Range League.
The Lobos, who improved to 11-2 overall and 6-0 league, trailed early but kept clawing back. They used superior defense and free-throw shooting in making the Impalas appear frustrated and were much better in maintaining their composure.
“The team defense was great,” Lobos coach Bruce Dick said. “We certainly needed it.”
And the Lobos needed 5-foot-10 senior Brian Glenn, who scored a game-high 29 points, repeatedly drove the lane and canned 12-of-13 free throws.
Glenn scored 11 points in the second quarter as the Lobos crept within 34-33 as their defense increased and the Impalas’ confidence fell.
“He’s a real competitor,” Bruce said.
Poudre (10-2, 4-1) managed just 20 points in the middle quarters, lost Anthony Crenshaw to an ejection in the second half — he got a technical after being whistled for his fourth foul — and had turnover issues out front.
The Impalas received double-doubles in points and rebounds from Boston College-bound Dallas Elmore (16 and 14) and Trevor Shaw (21 and 13), headed to Wyoming to play football. But they failed to get the ball to Elmore where he was comfortable.
“It was our chance in prime time and we failed miserably,” Poudre coach Jeff Schelly said, noting that more than one of his team’s passes landed out of bounds on the fly.
The Lobos went on a 10-0 run early in the fourth quarter, sparked by senior Tyler Campos, who scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half. He made four straight free throws when Crenshaw was ejected, and two of his team-high four 3-pointers came during the decisive run.
“We played hard and they’re a great team,” Glenn said. “We stuck with it and it was a great win for us.”
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
