ARVADA — These are the kinds of games Dakota Ridge needs to handle if the Eagles want to earn the Class 5A Jefferson County League championship and put themselves into state honors consideration.
Taking on a Pomona team that was deliberate, patient and well-drilled, Dakota Ridge was finally able to pull away at the end Wednesday night in a 68-55 road victory that built character.
The Eagles climbed to 13-3 overall, 5-1 in league. And keep in mind they have a key victory over preseason Jeffco favorite Chatfield.
Dakota Ridge coach Curi Yutzy knew what he was watching.
“Pomona’s solid and underrated,” Yutzy said. “We really gave (the Panthers) so many possessions, didn’t offensive rebound and, to be honest, so many dumb fouls and offensive possessions, and that’s on me for not making us as disciplined as we need to be. . . . We’re coming, but it was obvious that we can get a lot better.”
It took practically the entire game for the Eagles to shake the Panthers, who have only three seniors on the roster. But a steady game inside by junior Derek VanderVelde and necessary, late free-throw shooting by Danny DiFolco decided it. VanderVelde contributed 15 points and guarded the basket. DiFolco, with only five points after three quarters, made 10-of-11 free throws down the stretch in scoring 17.
“We handled their ball pressure, swung the ball and got into our offense,” DiFolco said. “There were some rough times, but we played good as a team.”
Dakota Ridge, which received 10 points each from Abdullah Musleh and John Sherman, twice led by 11 points entering the final minutes, but the Panthers (10-6, 4-2) stayed close. Senior guard Jeff Brown scored 14 of his team’s first 17 points, then watched as others such as Jordan Joseph (12) took over the load.
“We missed some shots, but Curi does a good job as a young coach,” Pomona coach Brian Zehnder said. “Our kids believe we can win.”
Dakota Ridge 17 17 10 24 — 68
Pomona 17 12 7 19 — 55
Dakota Ridge — DiFolco 3 11-13 17, Sherman 2 6-9 10, VanderVelde 5 5-6 15, Wilson 1 3-4 6, Smith 3 0-0 8, Musleh 3 3-6 10, Terrell 0 2-2 2. Totals 17 30-40 68.
Pomona — Brown 6 7-9 22, Kelley 0 3-3 3, Joseph 4 2-4 12, Williams 1 0-0 3, Gillian 0 0-2 0, Nyre 0 2-2 2, Welsh 5 1-1 11, Gutierrez 0 0-0 0, Dunn 1 0-0 2, Tobin 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 15-21 55.
3-pt. goals: Dakota Ridge — Smith 2, Wilson, Musleh. Pomona— Brown 3, Joseph 2, Williams.
