Golden grinds out victory in season opener versus Sierra

GOLDEN — It was a victory by committee for Golden’s boys basketball team Thursday night.

On opening night of the 14th annual D’Evelyn/Golden Preview Classic, the Demons outlasted Sierra 50-46 at Golden High School. Nine different Demons scored with senior Xavier Nuss leading the way with 11 points in the season opener for Golden.

“It’s really nice to start the season off strong,” said Nuss, who was the lone Demon to reach double-digit points. “It really sets the tempo for the rest of the season. You get that good mindset for the rest of this tournament and the year. It was a good win.”

Sierra (1-1 record) and Golden (1-0) went into the fourth quarter deadlocked at 36-36. Golden went on a key 7-0 run in the fourth quarter to open up a 45-38 lead. Nuss hit a key 3-pointer to end the run.

“It was a nice feeling,” Nuss said of his 3-pointer that put the Demons up 45-38 midway through the fourth quarter. “I think it kind of brought up our energy. It really brought up our defense.”

Sierra’s tandem of senior Davohn Caldwell and junior Xavier Burns gave Golden’s defense fits at times. Caldwell had a game-high 17 points and Burns poured in 13 points as the two combined for 30 points.

The Stallions cut Golden’s lead to 48-46 with 55 seconds to play. However, senior Thor Hansen scored on a driving layup for the Demons with 40 seconds left to push the lead up to 50-46. Hansen then took a charge at the other end to help seal the victory.

“We preach to the kids, ‘If you play hard you can compete with anybody.’ They stepped up to the challenge,” Golden coach Lou Vullo said.

Vullo will be shorthanded for at least the first half of the season. Senior Laif Palmer and junior guard Luc Chevalier will miss time due to injuries, but will hopefully return to the court this season.

“We want to get as many wins as we can in the non-conference (schedule) before we get those guys back,” Vullo said of Chevalier and Palmer. “It’s going to be games just like this.”

Nuss knows that it’s the responsibility of all the players to step up with two starters out.

“We are missing some players and missing size,” Nuss said of the injuries. “To win games were are going to have to be scrappy. Everyone had to contribute and everyone has to score. That is how we are going to win games.”

The Demons continue its play in the D’Evelyn/Golden Preview Classic over the next two days. Golden hosts Glenwood Springs at 7 pm Friday and Vista Peak at 6:30 pm Saturday. Both games will be at Golden High School.

Lutheran defeated Glenwood Springs and Vista Peak beat Holy Family on a layup at the buzzer in the first two games Thursday at Golden High School.

Sierra plays its final two games in the tournament at D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School. The Stallions face Lutheran at 4 pm Friday and Steamboat Springs at noon Saturday.