Vista PEAK boys basketball grabs road win at Green Mountain

LAKEWOOD — Vista PEAK and Green Mountain boys basketball teams took a break from conference play Monday night.

Vista PEAK — No. 2 in the latest Class 5A Colorado Prep coach and media poll — continued its dominance over Jeffco League teams this season. The Bison (14-3, 3-0 in 5A/4A Denver Prep League) took a 75-64 victory over Green Mountain. 

It was the fourth time this season Vista PEAK has take a win over a Jeffco team. The Bison now have wins over Bear Creek (6A Jeffco), along with 5A Jeffco’s D’Evelyn, Dakota Ridge and Green Mountain.

“It is super big because when you play a different school that isn’t in our league, it’s a harder team to play against,” Vista PEAK senior Alante Monroe-Elazier said. “We still came out on top. It was a great win.”

Monroe-Elazier led the way for the Bison with a game-high 23 points. The senior forward took over scoring 18 points in the second and third quarters to help Vista PEAK extend its lead to double-digits heading to the final quarter.

Vista PEAK had nice runs to end the second and third quarters. The Bison never trailed the entire game.

“Basketball is all about runs,” Monroe-Elazier said. “If you can get consistent runs you are going to win the game, definitely.”

Senior Kyrie Polk — Bison’s 6-foot-10 center — controlled the inside for Vista PEAK pouring in 14 points. Senior Javon Lowman had a nice game also pitching in14 points for the Bison.

“It is one thing to watch it on film, but to actually feel it,” Green Mountain coach Mike Puccio said of Vista PEAK of facing the big and athletic squad from the DPS. “Nobody in our league stresses like that.”

Green Mountain (9-8, 5-1 in 5A/4A Jeffco) had four players — seniors Blake Weslin (18 points), Austin Benson (10 points), Tre Gutierrez (10 points), along with junior Simon Lunsford (16 points) — reach double-digits, but it wasn’t enough as the Rams’ 3-game winning streak came to an end.

It seems like every time Green Mountain would get a big basket and grab some momentum, Vista PEAK would answer immediately.

“Transition killed us tonight and that is what (Vista PEAK) does,” Puccio said. “They are just really good. To see a team like that in the middle of league is good for us. They do a great job.”

Green Mountain is on the road for its next three conference games against Evergreen (Saturday), Golden (Feb. 6) and Wheat Ridge (Feb. 7).

“We have tough guys and senior heavy. We are ready for the challenge,” Puccio said of the Rams with three straight league road games before their conference finale against D’Evelyn on Feb. 9 back at Green Mountain High School. 

Vista PEAK is currently tied with Northfield for the lead in the 5A/4A Denver Prep League. The Bison host Lincoln on Wednesday before a huge head-to-head match-up against No. 6 Northfield (13-2, 3-0) on Friday night at Vista PEAK.

“We have a big one Friday coming up against Northfield,” Monroe-Elazier said as the Bison’s top-10 5A showdown to close out the week. “That should be a good one.”