Golden boys basketball hoping to reach new playoff heights
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t’s been six years since Golden’s boys basketball team last clinched the Class 4A Jeffco League title.
That doesn’t mean that the Demons haven’t been in the thick of things in those seasons — far from it. Golden averaged 15 victories a year during that stretch and made the postseason each time. But when push came to shove, either D’Evelyn or Valor Christian ended the league campaign with the crown.
Those league contests are where the 2014-15 version of the Demons have been such a different squad. One year removed from a 19-win season that ended with a second-round playoff exit, No. 2 Golden (13-2, 7-0) is sitting in first in Jeffco with a handful of games remaining.
The Demons are just ahead of D’Evelyn and Valor Christian in the standings but have a combined three victories over those squads. A win over the No. 7 Eagles on Saturday in Golden would go a long way toward cementing a league championship, especially given that Valor plays the Jaguars on Thursday evening prior to Saturday’s big showdown.
Demons coach John Anderson joked that he wouldn’t mind if the Valor-D’Evelyn matchup were to go seven overtimes, but turned serious when adding that a two-point victory over the Eagles back on Jan. 10 in Highlands Ranch doesn’t mean anything going into this weekend.
“We’re looking forward to playing at home this time,” Golden junior Ryan Blodgett said. “It’s going to be loud and it’s going to be a fun environment. They’re a great team, so it should be a good game.”
It might have been easy to somewhat overlook Golden coming into this season, especially after last year’s disappointing exit in the team’s playoff opener against Greeley Central. Instead the team buckled down with a renewed focus on defense and opened the season with five consecutive victories – including a 78-76 thriller over current No. 5 Pueblo Central.
The Demons dropped two of its three games at the Kruel Classic in Florida, but have won seven in a row to start 2015 going into Thursday’s game at Arvada.
Anderson said his squad has strong senior leadership that responds in crunch time and knows how to finish games. There is also the matter of playing solid defense from start to finish.
“What this team does that I wish all teams would do, is they grind it out defensively. They understand. They know that defense isn’t just something you do until you get the basketball,” Anderson said. “They take it real serious.”
Golden graduated only three seniors off last year’s squad, only of one of whom played in all 24 games. The experience of playing together a year ago, combined with the motivation of the early exit, helped turn the current core into even more of a contender.
Senior Ryan Thistlewood leads the team at 13.5 points per game to go along with 5.8 assists and 3.1 steals, while the 6-foot-5 Blodgett and 6-3 senior Cole Greff have powered the interior game. Blodgett averages 10.6 points and 8.1 rebounds, while Greff is at 10.9 and 7.9.
“You can play the best defense ever, but if you don’t secure the rebound, it means nothing,” Anderson said. “Those two guys pursue it. They’re big, strong and athletic. Having them in there is huge.”
With both bigs missing during Tuesday’s victory over Green Mountain, Thistlewood came through with 24 points and seven steals and Nick Capaul and Kayden Sund added 12 points each.
“All 12 guys bring energy, and it starts on the defensive end. We’re running around and we’re playing a high-powered defense this year, a quick defense,” said Blodgett, who missed his first game of the year with an ankle injury. “It just translates to offense, and we’re deep this year.”
Thistlewood said the No. 2 ranking has been nice, but it also generates a target for opposing teams. He and his teammates have embraced that pressure and found success, but Anderson said what ultimately matters is where the team stands in March.
“I want to be the No. 1 team in the state at the end of the year,” Anderson said. “That’s what we always talk about. It’s a process, go through it, be glad you’re No. 2 — but that and 50 cents will get you a cup of coffee.”
The second go-around with Valor Christian could provide the toughest challenge yet. The Eagles have a talented group that includes junior Khameron Davis (15 ppg) and sophomore Jalen Sanders (14.5 points, 7.9 rebounds) and play a similar style to the Demons.
Only four regular-season games remain after Saturday, with the league tournament and then state looming on the horizon. Golden is confident though it will be ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.
“We see every kind of style just in our conference,” Thistlewood said. “We see the big bangers in Valor, the athletic guards at D’Evelyn — we just see everyone. That helps us to play any team pretty much.”
