AURORA | The Class 5A boys state basketball tournament seeding committee made a simple switch for logistics involving Highlands Ranch’s placement in the 48-team field.
Switching the seeding of the Falcons, a Continental League power, to a No. 6 created a nightmarish second round matchup for coach Shawn Palmer and third-seeded Rangeview.
Behind 40 points from junior guard Jeremiah Paige, the homestanding Raiders survived a second-half onslaught by Highlands Ranch for a 70-64 victory on Saturday that gained them passage into 5A’s Sweet 16 for the third consecutive season. Rangeview (20-4) — which made it all the way to the state semifinals last season — will visit No. 2 Eaglecrest, which defeated No. 10 Arvada West 52-37, at 7 p.m. Wednesday for the right to play in the quarterfinal round at the Denver Coliseum.
Paige was the driving force behind the Raiders’ victory, as he finished with a career-high 40 — which topped the 35 he put up earlier in the season against Adams City — including 21 in a big first half that saw Rangeview lead by as many as 21 points on Trey Bridges’ buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the second quarter.
Highlands Ranch, coached by former Aurora Central boss Bob Caton, was ice cold from the field in the first half, but flipped a switch after halftime.
Senior guard Isaiah Parros attacked the basket, junior guard Evan Motlong began to find the range from the perimeter and junior post Zach Braxton protected the basket defensively and took advantage of the Raiders’ size deficiency in the paint.
The Raiders played without senior starter Dezant Burks, who they missed defensive and on the boards, who was in the hospital.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
(3) RANGEVIEW 70, (6) HIGHLANDS RANCH 64
Score by quarters:
High. Ranch 12 5 27 20 — 64
Rangeview 23 15 11 21 — 70
HIGHLANDS RANCH (64)
Isaiah Parros 3 0-6 6, Nick Shumpert 5 7-12 18, Evan Motlong 8 0-0 20, Zach Braxton 4 5-8 13, Jordan Sebastian 0 3-6 3, Pat Sullivan 1 0-0 2, Ryan Margheim 0 2-2 2. Totals 21 17-34 64.
RANGEVIEW (70)
Trey Bridges 1 5-8 8, Larry Bridges 2 4-7 11, Tim Ealy 2 0-0 4, Jeremiah Paige 12 13-16 40, Tarren Storey-Way 1 4-8 6, Cristian Garcia 0 3-6 3, Jalen Davis 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 29-45 70.
3-point field goals — Highlands Ranch (5): Evan Motlong 4, Nick Shumpert; Rangeview (5): Jeremiah Paige 3, Larry Bridges, Trey Bridges. Totals fouls — Highlands Ranch x, Rangeview x. Fouled out — Highlands Ranch: Zach Braxton, Ryan Margheim, Isaiah Parros, Jordan Sebastian; Rangeview: Tim Ealy. Technical fouls — None.
