Encouraged to show up at Regis Jesuit an hour before a much-anticipated matchup Jan. 12, many Rangeview boys basketball fans went above and beyond.
Instead, Rangeview students and supporters began to arrive nearly three hours before opening tip-off, determined not to miss a second of their undefeated team’s season.
The Rangeview faithful was rewarded with a rousing 60-52 victory that further strengthened the resume of a team that rose to the No. 1 spot in the CHSAANow coaches poll and No. 2 in the Associated Press media poll.
Coach Shawn Palmer — who picked up career coaching win No. 200 — and his 10-0 team, built sturdily on the foundations of defense, depth and unselfishness, continue to soak up the support and aim to give their backers even bigger things to cheer.
“What a great crowd; our kids were here for the ‘C’ game,” Palmer said. “You can just tell how hungry this school is for a successful team, but also how much they love this team.
“This team has been embraced by the school and everybody loves these guys. Why would you not like a hard-working, unselfish team that works together and does it without superstars?”
Against another outstanding team coached by legendary Ken Shaw in Regis Jesuit — which won by 25 points when they played last season — Rangeview was at its defensive, athletic best.
Six players scored seven or more points — seniors Tyrei Randall and EJ Reed and junior Elijah Blake were in double figures, followed by Kris Hollins and Matthew Johnson with eight apiece and Calvin Collins with seven — and all 10 who hit the floor confidently played their roles.
It was another outstanding effort that has really begun to turn heads in the return from break.
In the exact opposite scenario from last season when they resumed with four straight losses, Rangeview instead has won all three of its games and all against high-quality opponents.
The Raiders returned to the floor with a 70-56 win over then second-ranked ThunderRidge Jan. 6, followed by a 59-55 win at Cherokee Trail on Jan. 9 and then topped Regis Jesuit, licensing its faithful to unleash a “This is Our House!” chant in one of the most difficult places to play.
“I’m just enjoying it, being able to be No. 1 in my senior year is just amazing,” Randall said after scoring 10 points against Regis Jesuit.
“Hopefully we can keep going for that state championship,” he added. “We just have to stick with our plan and we can beat anybody that we want.”
The Raiders still face three tough upcoming games before the schedule eases in East Metro Athletic Conference play.
Next up are two more non-league games against quality foes — Jan. 15 against George Washington (7-7) and Jan. 16 against Boulder (9-3) — followed by the first of two meetings with league rival Aurora Central (9-4) on Jan. 19.
Now that it’s earned its way to the top of the basketball world, Rangeview — 5A’s only unbeaten along with 10-0 Eaglecrest — intends to do its best to keep that spot all the way to the end.
“We aren’t letting up on anybody; we’re ranked at the top right now and everybody wants to come out and give us their best shot every day,” Blake said. “We have to keep competing the way we have and we’re going to continue to pick it up, we’re not going to decrease our play.
“Everybody’s going to treat it like their championship game, but every practice and every game, we’re going to give our full effort. I like where we’re at right now.”
Many coaches try to downplay rankings or expectations, but Palmer is trying to channel it and use the momentum to take his team to a different level.
“We talked about it yesterday and said ‘You deserve to be No. 1 and your body of work is better than anybody else at this point,’” Palmer said. “‘We’re not going to be favored going into this game, but you’ve been acknowledged as the best team in the state and you are going to hold your head up high in every game and every practice and you’re going to act like it.’
“So far, we’re 1-0 and we’ll see if that continues.”
Rangeview leads the charge on a dynamic Aurora landscape that also includes another undefeated team in Eaglecrest — ranked No. 1 in the AP poll, just ahead of Rangeview — plus Regis Jesuit and defending 5A state champion Overland in addition to previously ranked teams such as Cherokee Trail, nine-win Aurora Central and Grandview.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
