Chatfield boys hoops rally late to edge Green Mountain

LITTLETON — The memories of the previous holiday season were in the forefront in the minds of Chatfield’s boys basketball team.

The Chargers suffered a 18-point loss to Green Mountain a year ago in the middle of an 8-game losing streaking before and following Winter Break. It was a different story with the start of 2025 as Chatfield managed to edge Green Mountain with a 51-49 home victory Friday night.

“It means so much to me and all the guys,” Chatfield senior Indiana Hostetler said after the 2-point home victory coming out of Winter Break. “We wanted this win so bad, especially after we lost so bad to (Green Mountain) last year. We are just really excited. Almost all of us were JV players last year.”

Chatfield (3-4 record) trailed 42-34 going in the fourth quarter against the visiting Rams (3-6). The Chargers picked it up defensively not allowing Green Mountain to score almost the first six minutes of the final quarter. 

The Chargers went on a 11-0 run to take a 45-42 lead with 2:27 left in the fourth quarter.

“Our guys just dug deep. They went after it,” Chatfield first-year coach Nathan Jerome said. “I think tonight was a sign of confidence for them that they can come back. When they buckle down on defense they are a great team.”

Green Mountain did have a quick offensive outburst that included junior Tre Gutierrez making his third 3-pointer of the second half to give the Rams a 48-47 lead with 1:04 left in the game. However, it would be the final field goal Green Mountain would make.

“We got stale,” Green Mountain coach Mike Puccio said of the Rams going cold offensively in the fourth quarter. “We allowed (Chatfield) to get too many second-chance buckets. We felt like we had them on the ropes and we let them back in it.”

Chatfield sophomore London Bright posted up Green Mountain junior Ben Swanson in the paint, scored with 25 seconds left and was fouled to regain a 49-48 lead for the Chargers. Bright missed the free throw, but the Rams turned the ball over on the other end of the court. Senior Creighton Chaney made a pair of free throws in the final seconds to push the lead to 51-48.

“In the fourth quarter we knew we had to do some things,” Jerome said. “We were able to manufacture some points and get some free throws. We were just tough tonight.”

Chatfield went 9-for-13 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter. Chatfield outscored Green Mountain 17-7 in the final quarter. Hostetler finished with a team-high 12 points. Bright had 11 points.

Green Mountain had one final chance trailing 51-49 with 1.8 second left. Gutierrez was at the free-throw line and had to miss his second free throw and hope for a tip-in by the Rams to force overtime. Chatfield senior Merek Chuita was able to secure the rebound after the intentional miss to seal the come-from-behind victory.

“They stuck with it tonight and finished it,” Jerome said as five different Chargers scored in the game-deciding fourth quarter.

Chatfield is on the road next week. The Chargers face Castle View on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Chatfield will have a quick turnaround facing Legend for a 2:30 p.m. tipoff on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at Ball Arena.

“We know Legend is one of the best teams in Colorado,” Hostetler said. “We are going to need this level of play and even more.”

The Rams’ were led by sophomore Sam Mielenz and junior Ben Swanson scoring a dozen points each. Mielenz was limited to just a single point after halftime. 

Green Mountain has its first home game of the New Year on Wednesday, Jan. 8, against Erie. 

“We have a young team. We have a long way to go,” Puccio said. “It starts with me. We have to be better, top to bottom.”