ARVADA — It’s no shock Ralston Valley is on the verge of winning Class 5A Jefferson County League boys basketball in its first try.
The newer Mustangs have grown up quickly and were a dominant force on the 4A level, winning a state championship, and making the semifinals and another title game appearance the past two seasons.
So here the Mustangs are, ready to take on Bear Creek on Friday to win 5A Jeffco outright, then nab one of the state tournament’s top four seeds Sunday.
“That isn’t up to me, but I think we should get one,” Mustangs senior All-Colorado player Pierce Hornung said after Wednesday night’s 80-50 drubbing of Pomona.
Said Ralston Valley coach Mitch Conrad: “I’d be shocked if we didn’t.”
The Mustangs have the goods. By rolling at Pomona, Ralston Valley moved to 20-2 overall and 12-0 in league, and has a victory over two-time 5A defending state champion East. Its only losses were to Littleton in the second game of the season, then in an out-of-state tournament before Christmas.
The Mustangs’ winning streak improved to 15 games despite not requiring much of their repertoire Wednesday against the outmanned and younger Panthers (8-14, 3-9).
Ralston Valley jumped to a 28-10 lead after one quarter and made it 48-26 by halftime as Conrad substituted freely.
The Ralston Valley lead crested at 32 points down the stretch as it prepared to win the league outright.
“We don’t want a tie or anything, we want to win it by ourselves,” Conrad said. “It’s definitely an accomplishment, gives us momentum going into the playoffs.”
Taylor Gillach’s 17 points paced five Mustangs in double-figure scoring.
Ralston Valley 28201220—80
Pomona 1016816—50
Ralston Valley — Allen 0 0-0 0, Gillach 6 4-5 17, Murphy 4 2-2 12, Hornung 3 0-0 6, Heller 4 0-0 10, Hicks 0 0-0 0, Lucero 1 1-4 3, Hornung 2 4-4 8, Felton 4 5-6 13, Purfield 4 2-2 11, Robinson 0 0-0 0, Svejcar 0 0-0 0. Totals 28 18-23 80.
Pomona — Gamble 3 2-5 8, Lombardi 3 2-2 9, Brown 2 0-0 4, Nichols 3 0-0 8, Kelley 2 0-0 5, Joseph 0 0-0 0, Williams 1 0-0 2, Welsh 3 1-2 8, Lee 0 2-2 2, Herbert 2 0-0 4, Nyre 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 7-11 50.
3-point goals — Murphy 2, Heller 2, Gillach, Purfield; Nichols 2, Lombardi, Kelley, Welsh. Total fouls — Ralston Valley 8, Pomona 14. Fouled out — None. Technicals — Ralston Valley coach Conrad.
