DENVER | In an energetic atmosphere between two of the top teams in Class 6A and the City League, the Rangeview boys basketball team dominated the third quarter on its way to a big win Friday night at Denver South.
The Raiders — who sit atop the Colorado High School Activities Association’s Seeding Index in 6A — ended the second quarter on a 7-2 run and then outscored the No. 9 Ravens 15-4 in the third quarter to break open what had been a five-point game on their way to a 78-61 victory.
Senior LaDavian King led the way for Rangeview with 18 points, while he was joined in double figures by freshman Marceles Duncan with 14 and senior Kenny Black-Knox and sophomore Archie Weatherspoon V had 11 apiece. Coach Shawn Palmer’s Raiders bumped their season record to 12-0 and 2-0 in the City League.
Rangeview jumped out to an 8-1 start in the opening two minutes and led 16-6 past the midway point in the opening quarter on a 3-pointer by King, only to see Denver South (9-3, 1-1) close the gap to one at the end of the quarter.
The game was even with 1:40 remaining in the second quarter, but a burst that included two free throws from Weatherspoon V and baskets from junior Anthony Andrew and sophomore Yasin Sekue made it a 37-32 margin at the break.
The Raiders came up with the first six points of the second half as well — on two free throws from King, a layup from senior Royce Edwards and a put-back dunk from Sekue — to get the lead back to double figures. The period ended with Rangeview in front 52-36.
One of the keys to the Raiders’ building the lead was holding Denver South leading scorer Dominic Rhoades-Martinez scoreless through the first three quarter. Rhoades-Martinez — partially hindered by foul trouble — scored all 12 of his points in the fourth quarter, when the teams combined for 51 points.
The teams will meet again at Rangeview on Feb. 4.
Before that, the Raiders have another conference road game ahead on Jan. 22 with a 7:30 p.m. visit to George Washington.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
(1) RANGEVIEW 78, (9) DENVER SOUTH 61
Score by quarters:
Rangeview 17 20 15 26 — 78
Denver South 16 16 4 25 — 61
RANGEVIEW (78)
LaDavian King 5 6-7 18, Kenny Black-Knox 5 1-2 11, Archie Weatherspoon V 4 3-3 11, Marceles Duncan 6 2-3 14, Yasin Sekue 3 2-2 8, Royce Edwards 2 1-2 5, Aidan Perez 2 1-2 5, Anthony Andrew 1 0-0 2, Jus’Tus McDonald 1 0-0 2, Kevin Prosser III 1 0-0 2, Kevin Hernandez 0 0-0 0, Tyson Tuck 0 0-0 0, Nu Kumahn 0 0-0 0, Ka’Marii Love 0 0-0 0. Totals 30 16-21 78.
DENVER SOUTH (61)
Dominic Rhoades-Martinez 4 1-2 12, Damian Didden 2 2-3 7, Brody Shepherd 5 3-4 13, Matt Rhoades-Martinez 1 0-0 3, Miles Schwartz 0 0-2 0, Jayden Davis 5 1-1 11, Christian Cobb 4 0-0 9, Quinn Kelsey, 1 0-0 2, Cole Shepard 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 9-14 61.
3-point field goals: Rangeview (2): LaDavian King 2. Denver South (6): Dominic Rhoades-Martinez 3, Christian Cobb, Damian Dirden, Matt Rhoades-Martinez. Total fouls — Rangeview 14, Denver South 18. Fouled out — Rangeview: King. Technical foul — Rangeview: King
