AURORA — “What a contrast between halves,” Rangeview boys basketball coach Shawn Palmer said Tuesday night, and he was only half-kidding.
His Raiders nearly melted down in a trying second quarter before rallying in the second half to handle rival Aurora Central 68-56 in a matchup of Class 5A East Metro Athletic Conference teams that actually was a nonleague encounter.
Plus, since it was in Aurora, playground moves, speed, quickness, a key ejection and shot-blocking ultimately came to the front as the Raiders, No. 2 in the latest Associated Press media poll, are now 13-0.
“We’ve been fighting adversity all year, and tonight we created our own, which happens when our emotions get the best of us,” Palmer said.
With 1:38 to play before half, Rangeview top scorer Tyrei Randall didn’t agree with a foul call and promptly drew two technicals, got tossed out and will sit out Thursday’s EMAC opener against Northglenn. The Trojans went on to a 39-25 lead. However, Rangeview regrouped, harassed Trojans guards with a half-court trap and cruised.
“We just focused on defense. It was a priority for us,” said Rangeview’s Elijah Reed, tops with 23 points.
But other Raiders took turns making plays. Kris Hollins added 10, including a thunderous dunk. Others who came through: Jalen Guidry, Calvin Collins, Elijah Blake, Matthew Johnson and Marquis Kraemer each contributed in a big way.
“They played great,” Palmer said.
On the other side, the Trojans (9-5) wilted a bit and scored only 17 second-half points after Elijah Coleman (18 points), L.D. Thomas (15) and Kelsey Williams sparked an impressive first half, including long-range and inside shooting.
It was, in all, Blake said, “one of those nights.”
Aurora Central 14 25 8 9 — 56
Rangeview 17 13 17 21— 68
Aurora Central — L.D. Thomas 5 3-4 15, L. Thomas 0 0-0 0, Coleman 7 1-5 18, Porter 2 0-0 4, Williams 4 4-6 13, Ankomah 0 0-0 0, Jackson 1 0-0 2, Koromah 2 0-0 4, Burleson 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 8-15 56.
Ranegview — Guidry 1 0-1 2, Randall 1 0-0 3, Hollins 2 6-6 10, Blake 3 3-4 9, E. Reed 7 7-7 22, Kraemer 1 2-2 4, Johnson 2 2-2 7, S. Reed 0 0-0 0, Collins 3 1-2 9, Jackson 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 21-24 68.
3-pt. goals — Coleman 3, L.D. Thomas 2, Williams; Collins 2, Johnson, Randall, E, Reed.
Neil H. Devlin: @ndevlin or ndevlin@denverpost.com
