LAKEWOOD — Pierce Hornung was as active as a teenager with a new credit card let loose in a mall.
The only junior from The Denver Post’s All-Colorado team a year ago was everywhere Wednesday night, rebounding, blocking shots, running down loose balls, making free throws and helping bring the ball up against the press.
Hornung, bound for Colorado State, also scored 27 points as Ralston Valley halted Green Mountain’s undefeated run 59-50 in front of a capacity crowd and took control of the Class 5A Jefferson County League.
Ralston Valley, ranked No. 9 in The Denver Post/9News poll, moved to 16-2 overall, 8-0 in league, and can thank Hornung’s all-around game in the biggest regular season Jeffco boys game in years.
“He was pretty terrific,” Ralston Valley coach Mitch Conrad said. “A lot of people have been saying: ‘What’s up with Pierce? He hasn’t been scoring much.’ But when we need him to, he scores.”
He did — Hornung scored seven of the Mustangs’ first nine points, then added 17 in the second half. He grabbed 12 rebounds, had three blocked shots and came up with a couple of steals and loose balls.
“They look to me to lead,” Hornung said of his teammates. “But we have a lot of leaders on this team.”
Taylor Gillach added 17 points and every other Mustang battled the No. 8 Rams (16-1, 7-1), who didn’t match Ralston Valley physically or inside.
Despite turnover issues on both sides, it was back and forth until down the stretch, when the Mustangs protected the lead in a variety of ways, including with better ball movement.
With Green Mountain relegated mostly to perimeter offense — hence, the Rams shot only 12 free throws to Ralston Valley’s 35 — the Mustangs’ extended defense also never let sharpshooter Brian Hunt go off. Hunt paced the Rams with 17 points, had three other 3-pointers seem to go down, then out, and was part of a frustrated, disappointed team.
“We got down and didn’t match their size,” Green Mountain coach Rudy Martin said. “And Pierce was great on both ends.”
The Jeffco League as a whole has been down for multiple seasons and dispatched from the Colorado tournament quickly, but this season’s members are certain they will provide more of a fight.
And it will be led by Hornung, who shined in the big-game atmosphere.
“It’s what we wanted, coming down to this big game,” he said. “I’m really proud of our guys.”
Ralston Valley 9171518—59
Green Mountain12121511—50
Ralston Valley — Allen 0 1-2 1, Gillach 4 6-8 17, Murphy 1 0-0 2, Hornung 8 11-16 27, Heller 2 4-6 9, Hicks 0 0-0 0, Lucero 0 0-0 0, Hornung 0 0-0 0, Felton 1 1-3 3, Purfield 0 0-0 0, Robinson 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 23-35 59.
Green Mountain — Nicholson 2 0-0 4, Sleeman 3 1-2 7, Peterson 3 1-2 8, Hunt 4 6-8 17, Jimmerson 0 0-0 0, Swartzendruber 3 0-0 7, Swaim 1 0-0 3, Smith 2 0-0 4. Totals 18 8-12 50.
3-point goals — Gillach 3, Heller; Hunt 3, Peterson, Swartzendruber, Swaim. Total fouls — Ralston Valley 12, Green Mountain 22. Fouled out — Swartzendruber, Nicholson. Technicals — None.
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
