ARVADA — Ralston Valley was ripe to be had. The Mustangs were inexplicably flat, minus their middle as 6-foot-6 Dane June was sidelined with an ankle injury and probably looking ahead to next week’s meeting at Green Mountain.
However, they did just enough Wednesday to hold off determined yet turnover-prone Chatfield 59-55 to stay undefeated in the Class 5A Jefferson County League.
Ralston Valley, No. 9 in The Denver Post/9News 5A poll, moved to 14-2 overall, 6-0 in league, a half-game behind Green Mountain. The Mustangs dealt with a difficult night.
“We really didn’t have a lot of fire,” coach Mitch Conrad said. “I think what we’re learning is that in the 5A league, we have to bring it every night. We really didn’t show our stuff until the second half.”
Ralston Valley needed every bit of it. The Mustangs led 50-43 down the stretch, weathered a 7-0 run by the younger Chargers (11-5, 3-3), then put them away behind the shooting of Taylor Gillach (22 points, nine in the fourth quarter) and patient play by Colorado State signee Pierce Hornung. Hornung grabbed two key rebounds late, knocked away a pass that would have been a sure layup for the Chargers and led a fast break in which he passed for a layup.
“Foul trouble was a little bit of an issue and we were kind of out of rhythm,” Gillach said.
His two 3-pointers in the third quarter kept the Mustangs in the flow.
The Mustangs’ Dylan Heller scored 12 and Hornung 10. Chatfield’s Trevor Wages scored 16 and was tough inside for the game Chargers. Landon Vermeer added 12.
