Boys basketball defeated by Basalt

The GHS Boys basketball team took on the Basalt Longhorns in the opening game of the Western Colorado Mountaineer basketball team camp on June 27.

Senior Landon Miller jumpstarted the Gunnison offense, scoring a quick two points to pile the pressure on early. Basalt responded quickly on offense, taking advantage of back-to-back three-point plays to reclaim the lead at 6-2.

Sophomore Asher Woytek helped Gunnison fight back, earning a bucket in the paint, along with two free throws. Basalt continued to exploit the Cowboys defense, and scored another four points to quench the comeback.

Woyek once again took over in the paint after a new set of subs entered the game. His putback layup snagged another two points for Gunnison. The Longhorns continued with their steady offensive pace, and capitalized on another contested layup.

Despite battling against Basalt's raging attack, the Cowboys kept their hopes alive after Jack Stone dove for a loose ball to gain possession. Bing O'Rourke cashed a three and carried Gunnison back up 12-10.

The Longhorns drove another layup past Gunnison’s scrappy defense. With the ball in hand, Max Peluso weaved through traffic on the other end to rack up two points, cutting the lead to 14-12.

Basalt's offense cashed in three straight layups to extend the lead. The Cowboys, now trailing 20-12, retaliated with a layup of their own.

The Longhorns scored four more points before the first clock expired. Gunnison finished the first half trailing 26-14.

The second half started hot for Gunnison with Peluso scoring two early. Basalt scored their own two in response. After a Longhorns turnover, Jorge Perez gained possession and trimmed the lead by two with a contested layup.

Basalt delivered the dagger with a clutch three-pointer to extend the lead to 13. Gunnison's offensive attempts fell short, despite Perez drawing a foul and making his free throws.

Even with the score at 31-20, Basalt continued to control the Gunnison defense. The Longhorns scored six unanswered points to maintain a 37-20 cushion. After a lay up from Miller, Gunnison's offense struggled to keep up as the away team raced away

After a Longhorns three, the Cowboys Rylan Sahagun responded with a three-pointer of his own, moving the score to 40-25. Still, Basalt kept their foot firmly on the gas, and scored two more. The game ended as a Longhorns victory with a final score of 44-27.

The Gunnison boys would go on to win their next game against Caliche before losing their next four games at the camp.

(Evan Bjornstad can be contacted at 970.641.1414.)