No. 4 D’Evelyn boys rally in final minutes to edge No. 10 Golden

D’Evelyn teammates Cameron Brown (10) and Landon Schoenberger (15) reach for a ball with Golden senior Jake McCormick during the first half Tuesday night. (Dennis Pleuss

GOLDEN — Lack of familiarity hasn’t been an issue this boys basketball season between Class 4A Jeffco League rivals D’Evelyn and Golden.

The Jaguars and Demons locked up for the third time in just more than two months on Tuesday at Golden High School. No. 4-ranked D’Evelyn scored the final 12 points to notch a key 52-47 conference victory over 10th-ranked Golden.

D’Evelyn senior Ty McGee (1) goes up and over Golden senior Cole Greff for a layup Tuesday night. McGee scored a team-high 21 point in the Jaguars’ 52-47 victory against the Demons. (Dennis Pleuss

D’Evelyn (16-3, 11-0 in league) holds a two-game lead Golden (16-4, 9-2) and three-game lead over Green Mountain (11-8, 8-3) with three conference games left for the three top teams in 4A Jeffco.

Despite all but wrapping up its third straight league crown Tuesday, the Jaguars want to sweep the conference for a third consecutive season.

“Green Mountain and Wheat Ridge both gave us fits,” D’Evelyn coach Troy Pachner said about the Jaguars’ two upcoming league opponents. “We aren’t resting on our laurels. Our plan is to win each league game we play. Maybe it’s mathematically tough for other people to win league, but we’ll take care of business as we go.”

D’Evelyn has reeled off 38 straight 4A Jeffco League victories dating back to the 2010-11 season. The Jaguars’ last conference loss was just over three years ago to Valor Christian on Feb. 10, 2011.

“It definitely makes us feel good,” D’Evelyn senior Ty McGee said of the Jaguars closing in on another league title. “Our first chapter is getting league, but we have some greater goals.”

The goal Tuesday night was figure out away to slow down Golden sophomore Ryan Blodgett. The sophomore was dominating down low pouring in 25 points through three quarters.

“(Blodgett) went off for 16 points in the first half,” said McGee, who led the way for D’Evelyn with 21 points. He was our key kid to focus on in the second half.”

Blodgett, McGee and D’Evelyn junior Gant Witherspoon (15 points) were putting on a scoring clinic through the first three quarters. The trio combined for 59 points going into the fourth quarter with Golden leading 40-39.

The Demons actually took its biggest lead of the game at 47-40 after back-to-back 3-pointers from senior Jake McCormick and a made free throw from junior Ryan Thistlewood with 5:41 left in the fourth quarter. It would be the final points of the night for Golden.

D’Evelyn answered seconds later with a 3-pointer from Nate Flack, who has just recently returned to the court from injury. Flack’s 3-pointer started a 12-0 run for the Jaguars to end the game.

“You hold a high scoring team to 52 points you should have a chance to win the basketball game,” Golden coach John Anderson said. “We got some pretty good looks. Nothing went in.”

Golden junior Phil Katzman (11) has his path to the basket blocked by D’Evelyn junior Grant Witherspoon (24) on Tuesday night. (Dennis Pleuss

McGee made a pair of free throws with 4:50 left in the game to pull the Jaguars within 47-45. D’Evelyn took the lead for good on a 3-point play from senior Brian Smith with 4:33 remaining.

Junior Christian Denton stepped up in the final minute on both ends of the floor for D’Evelyn. Denton went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the final minute and also came up with a huge steal on a Golden inbounce pass intended for Blodgett.

“I really respect Christian Denton,” Pachner said. “He nailed the game with four straight free throws. Then the steal, he really made a play there to get it done.”

Golden had one final shot to send the game into overtime, but McCormick’s 3-pointer was off the mark and Denton grabbed the rebound.

The top two teams in 4A Jeffco split their previous two meetings. Golden defeated D’Evelyn 77-67 in the D’Evelyn/Golden Preview Classic tournament final in early December. The Jaguars answered with a 68-50 win over the Demons on Jan. 10 in the first of two conference battles.

“Golden is a great team,” Pachner said. “I thought Blodgett was outstanding all night. We had no answer for him.”

Golden closes out its regular season with home games against Evergreen (Thursday) and Arvada (Feb. 19) before wrapping up on the road against rival Wheat Ridge (Feb. 21).

“The big thing right now is we have to bounce back and bounce back quickly,” Anderson said. “We can’t have a hangover effect. Right now it’s about positioning ourselves for the playoffs.”

The 4A boys basketball state tournament begins Wednesday, Feb. 26.

Golden sophomore Nick Capaul (34) snags a rebound away from D’Evelyn sophomore Landon Schoenberger (15) during the first half Tuesday night at Golden High School. (Dennis Pleuss

Golden sophomore Ryan Blodgett, middle, tries to get a grip on a rebound between D’Evelyn juniors Christian Denton (21) and Grant Witherspoon (24) on Tuesday night. Blodgett had a game-high 25 points, but it wasn’t enough as D’Evelyn scored its 38th straight league victory, 52-47. (Dennis Pleuss