HIGHLANDS RANCH — Into the stretch run of the 2009-10 regular season, Class 5A boys basketball is exactly where it began — chasing Regis Jesuit.
The Raiders’ latest victory, 75-57 at Highlands Ranch on Friday to open the Continental League, was thorough. They never trailed and led by as many as 26 points in the defending champions’ 30th straight victory over Colorado competition and 11th overall in a row this season. They haven’t lost to an in-state team in more than a year.
Obvious question: How good are the Raiders, who are ranked No. 1 in The Denver Post/9News 5A poll and are 12-1 overall, 1-0 in league?
“Very good,” Highlands Ranch coach Bob Caton said. “As far as a team that can shoot the basketball, to have that many players who can shoot it, they’re very good.”
The No. 7 Falcons (9-3, 0-1) entered hot and left cold. They had won seven straight games, including taming three of the Denver Prep’s upper echelon by a combined 55 points.
But the Raiders were simply too strong in front of a loud road crowd, an all-too-familiar aspect of their season — they’ve been home just once. No matter. Even with 2008-09 player of the year Bud Thomas committing two fouls in the first 2:13 of the game, the Raiders extended their lead.
Sophomore Tanner Samson entered and made two 3-pointers. Joey Ptasinski went on to score 18 points. Drew Dyer and Ryan Winters defended and rebounded. Thomas, who didn’t get another foul until it didn’t matter, finished with 21 points and nine rebounds.
“I don’t think the score was indicative,” Regis coach Ken Shaw said. “(The Falcons) are solid and we got a couple of runs on them. We have a lot of weapons. It starts with Bud, but obviously we have other guys. I just think we’re a multidimensional team that’s hard to guard and we guard the basket well.”
Said Ptasinski: “We all just build off each other on offense and defense, and we can get into transition.”
Regis Jesuit 18 21 19 17 — 75
Highlands Ranch 12 12 15 18 — 57
Regis Jesuit — Clark 3 3-4 9, Thomas 7 3-5 21, Dyer 1 0-0 2, Ptasinski 5 7-7 18, Winters 3 3-4 9, Mencini 0 0-0 0, Samson 4 0-0 12, Lesnansky 1 0-0 2, Smith 1 0-0 2. Totals 25 16-20. 75.
Highlands Ranch — Wright 1 0-0 2, Olson 4 0-0 9, Sebastion 0 1-2 1, Anttila 3 0-0 7, Byrd 8 1-3 18, Haldorson 2 0-0 4, Bucholtz 2 1-2 5, Assie 2 0-0 5, Donatell 0 1-2 1, Gosz 0 2-2 2, Brady 1 0-0 3. Totals 23 6-11 57.
3-pt. goals — Thomas 4, Samson 4, Ptasinski; Olson, Byrd, Anttila, Assie, Brady.
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
