ARVADA — Mitch Conrad didn’t necessarily enjoy doing it, but he got his star’s attention.
Ralston Valley was performing like a 401(k) against Chaparral last weekend in the Class 5A boys basketball tournament’s second round, and the coach took action in direct contrast to the approach that made the Mustangs one of the top four seeds — he wanted Pierce Hornung to forget about passing the ball and do it himself.
Hornung complied, scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter as Ralston Valley won 51-36 to advance to today’s Sweet 16.
So, Pierce, you scored 14 of your team’s final 23 points?
“That’s what they said.”
Hornung’s no-big-deal style is real. The only holdover from the 2008 All-Colorado team by The Denver Post would react the same if he had scored 30 in the fourth quarter.
No matter if he dunks or air-balls from 4 feet, he gets it.
“There’s more than scoring,” he said.
John Wooden would love him. Hornung’s quietly right there in a wide-open race for Mr. Colorado Basketball. He leaves the jersey-tugging to others, thank you, and looks the same on the bench during mop-up time as when guarding the opposition’s best player in a tie game in the final seconds.
Inside, his motor has as much horsepower as that of any other in-state player, but doesn’t feel the need to show it after he rejects a shot or swoops in for a rebound.
He’s not the only guy on the floor for the Mustangs, although their further progression will depend heavily on what he does.
“They’ve been looking to me the past couple of seasons,” said Hornung, a three-year starter. “One thing I’ve tried to do this year was work on my defense. I was never a shot-blocker. As far as offensively, a successful team is where everyone is involved. They’re out there having fun, knowing their roles, and it makes it much more successful than if they’re looking just to you.”
Ralston Valley went through 5A Jefferson County undefeated in its first try after a considerable 4A run as a new school in northwest Arvada. Hornung easily became the league’s best rebounder, shot-blocker and thief, all generated from a lean, strong, 6-foot-5 frame that allows him to jump quickly, hang in the air, accelerate and go side-to-side like no other Jeffco player in years.
By no means is he great from the perimeter and he continues to raise eyebrows when driving across the lane only to kick it out to the perimeter, but the method to his seeming madness is the main reason the Mustangs are 22-2.
“Sometimes he’s just too unselfish,” Conrad said.
As one of only three in-state Division I signees — he’s headed to Colorado State — Hornung’s pedigree and performance are intertwined. In college, his grandfather played against the great Bill Russell. Hornung was on a top-flight summer team with the likes of East’s DaVaughn Thornton and Eaglecrest’s Josh Turner and Gage Wooten that took on a group backed by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. A cousin, sophomore Denali Murnan, helped the Mustangs tie for the 5A Jeffco girls crown.
Ralston Valley clearly has made its 5A point, but Conrad will be ready to ride whichever Mustang necessary, including their leader.
Next up: Arapahoe.
“We’re not satisfied. We want to take it all the way, one at a time,” Hornung said. “Anything less would be disappointing.”
