Roderick Taylor showed up Wednesday night with a purpose and was ready to go.
Good thing, as Montbello had to fight off Rangeview 71-64 in a legitimate nonleague tester that helped the surprising Warriors improve to 9-0.
With senior transfer from Oklahoma DeAndre Clayton purposely sitting out — the 6-foot-9 forward’s move is being investigated by the state organization, according to coach David Carey — the Warriors, facing the meat of their nonleague schedule before beginning city play, will be looking to players such as Taylor, a 6-6 strongman inside.
No problem, Taylor said.
“I decided to come focused tonight,” he said. “Coach was telling us about being focused, so I took that as motivation.”
It worked as Taylor, extremely active inside against a talented Raiders front line, scored a game-high 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, both welcomed totals to Carey’s crew that was taxed all game by Rangeview (7-4).
“Roderick had his best game,” Carey said. “He’d been in a slump a little bit, but he pulled himself out of it tonight.”
Montbello led most of the way with Rangeview never going away, in between leading briefly. The Warriors’ biggest lead was eight points, late in the fourth quarter.
Ultimately, turnovers did in the Raiders. They had 13 in the second quarter (23 for the game) despite trailing only 30-26 at halftime, but were also killers late. Montbello took advantage in the closing minutes, the key segment that has haunted Rangeview throughout its demanding nonleague slate.
“That’s what I just told them,” Raiders coach Shawn Palmer said. “We have to be able to handle it in the closing minutes.”
Taylor also was large in the fourth quarter — he scored Montbello’s first 11 points. No other Warrior scored down the stretch until two free throws by Azian Williams with 2:39 to play.
Carey’s rotation was short (he used seven players), but Isiah Cooper (19 points), Williams (12) and Jaymes Conyers (nine) provided quality.
The Warriors contested well inside, although Rangeview’s Jeffrey Solarin and Jamal Wright (16 points each) and Yoshio Allen (12) defended and rebounded. Javon Hewlett added 12 points.
Said Carey: “It was a good victory and we have to keep going.”
Montbello next gets Highlands Ranch on the road Friday night, then will host Chatfield on Saturday night. Rangeview will meet Denver’s George Washington on Wednesday before heading into the Continental League.
Rangeview 13 13 20 18 — 64
Montbello 12 18 20 21 — 71
Rangeview — Hewlett 5 0-0 12, Maybin 0 0-0 0, Wright 6 3-4 16, J. Solarin 6 4-6 16, Allen 6 0-0 12, Reynolds 3 2-2 8, Hawkins 0 0-0 0, Awini 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 9-12 64.
Montbello — Smith 2 0-0 4, Cooper 9 1-1 19, Taylor 10 3-5 23, Williams 3 5-6 12, Cherry 2 0-0 4, Con- yers 3 2-2 9, Turner 0 0-0 0. Totals 29 11-14 71.
3-point goals — Hewlett 2, Wright; Conyers, Williams. Total fouls — Rangeview 14, Montbello 11. Fouled out — None. Technicals — Taylor.
