HIGHLANDS RANCH — Chances are Brett Olson will not be able to maintain his torrid shooting pace through the season.
Yet the Highlands Ranch senior is enjoying the hot streak while it lasts.
Olson continued his scorching start Friday night, scoring 25 points as the host Falcons, ranked third in Class 5A, beat Dakota Ridge 76-56 in a nonleague game.
Marcus Byrd scored 26 points for Highlands Ranch, which opened the game with a 22-0 run and improved to 4-0.
“(Olson) works on his game, and he’s a basketball junkie,” Highlands Ranch coach Bob Caton said. “He has always shot the ball well. He’s just maybe shooting the ball a little more now than in the past, but he always has been a great shooter. He continues to improve because he always works on it.”
Olson knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in the second quarter and finished 9-for-14 from the floor. Olson has been so sharp throughout the Falcons’ undefeated start that his overall shooting percentage actually dropped a few decimal points despite his impressive effort Friday.
“I’ve put in a lot of time on my shooting, and my teammates find me very well,” Olson said. “They know when I’m open, and I know when they are open. They know how to find me when I’m open, and I’m knocking down shots.”
Olson and Byrd scored 13 of the Falcons’ 22 consecutive points after the opening tipoff, helping to lead Highlands Ranch to a 47-25 halftime lead. The Olson-Byrd duo made four of the Falcons’ six 3-pointers and combined to go 11-for-11 at the free-throw line.
Brent Terrell made six 3-pointers and led Dakota Ridge (1-2) with 19 points.
“Our players work hard in practice and are very focused,” Caton said. “We’ve had a very strong schedule. Dakota Ridge is one of the best teams in Jeffco. We wanted to play the best, and it has been real good for us.”
Dakota Ridge 8 17 17 14 — 56
Highlands Ranch 25 22 15 14 — 76
Dakota Ridge — Musleh 2 2-2 8, VanderVelde 1 5-7 7, Owston 1 0-0 2, Robbins 0 0-0 0, DiFolco 5 5-6 16, Terrell 6 1-2 19, Flores 2 0-0 4, Poste 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 13-17 56.
Highlands Ranch — Gosz 2 1-1 6, Olson 9 5-5 25, Haldorson 3 0-0 6, Anttila 3 0-0 6, Byrd 9 6-6 26, Brady 1 0-0 3, Bucholtz 2 0-1 4, Donatell 0 0-0 0, Pennel 0 0-0 0. Totals 29 12-13 76.
3-pt. goals — Terrell 6, Musleh 2, DiFolco; Olson 2, Byrd 2, Brady, Gosz. Fouls — Dakota Ridge 17, Highlands Ranch 18.
