The GHS boys basketball team dazzled the home crowd with a gritty league win against Cedaredge on Jan. 10.
Crucial baskets from seniors Tyler Richter and Wolfgang Anderson fought off a late Bruins comeback to secure the 63-59 Cowboy win. The victory moved GHS to a 5-4 overall record, which maintained a 4-0 start in the 3A Western Slope League.
“It all came down to our chemistry,” Anderson said. “It’s a game of runs, but we were able to form together as brothers, stop their runs and take advantage.”
Heading into the rivalry Cedaredge sat 1-5, hungry for its first league win of the season. The Cowboys returned to the court after a lengthy holiday break, but started right where they left off. Early buckets from Burk O’Rourke, Jackson Dalleck and Anderson, alongside an electric defensive pace gave the Cowboys an early advantage. Still, the Bruins proved to be a tough match, and held a 13-12 lead after the first quarter.
Anderson’s team-high 20 points led from the front throughout the second period. The senior was instrumental on both ends of the court, and helped the Cowboys surge ahead by double digits. The Cowboys entered the locker room leading 38-26.
The Cowboy attack cooled in the third quarter, and allowed the Bruins to gain a foothold. Cedaredge outscored the Cowboys by 9 points out of the locker room, forcing a neck-and-neck contest into the fourth.
But then Richter stepped up when his team needed him the most. The senior was clinical under the rim, and sank a number of crucial jumpers to keep the Cowboys ahead. Richter finished the night with 15 points, and went 3-for-4 at the free throw line in the dying minutes. With one score separating the sides, a late traveling call against the Bruins gave GHS a final possession. It ended 63-59 for the Cowboys.
“These guys did not let each other fail,” said Head Coach Cristian Aguilar. “It’s that brotherhood piece. We push each other, and make each other better for moments like this. We are a dangerous team, and I’ve always preached that we can do some damage in this league. Our guys now believe that.”
The resilient win propelled the boys into another hotly contested matchup against Olathe on Jan. 11. In similar fashion, GHS edged out the Pirates by a slim margin, moving the team’s winning streak to three. O’Rourke led with 27 points, with 6 coming from behind the arc. The Cowboys will next host Meeker at home on Jan. 18 at 4 p.m.
(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@gunnisontimes.com.)
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