DENVER | For two straight seasons, the Rangeview boys basketball team finished with just a single defeat to another Colorado team.
Unfortunately, both of those have come at the Denver Coliseum in the semifinal round of the Class 6A state tournament, which has left the Raiders short of their goal of playing the championship in the state’s largest classification.
Last season, it was Valor Christian that prevented Rangeview from making the final and Friday night it was second-seeded Ralston Valley, which put on a shooting display at a critical juncture in the second half that the Raiders couldn’t match en route to a 61-49 victory.
Despite 16 points from sophomore Marceles Duncan, 14 from junior Archie Weatherspoon V and 13 from senior Anthony Andrew, coach Shawn Palmer’s Rangeview team finished 23-4. The only other losses suffered by the Raiders came in Las Vegas before winter break.
Ralston Valley (26-1) moved into Saturday’s 4 p.m. 6A state title game against fifth-seeded Rock Canyon (24-3), which knocked out No. 1 seed Chaparral in the other semifinal.
Rangeview struggled in the opening half of its Great 8 contest against No. 6 Cherry Creek a week earlier and the first two quarters were again slow for a team that is used to getting off to fast starts.
The Raiders were able to overcome the slow start against the Bruins and pulled away in the second half, but this time found themselves facing a four-point deficit to a Mustangs team that eventually found its shooting range after a cold start, which produced an 18-14 lead.
As in the previous game, Rangeview turned it up offensively in the third quarter, but Ralston Valley matched it blow for blow and even increased the lead by a point. Much of the Mustangs’ damage came in the paint from senior Zeke Andrews, who found some soft spots in the Raiders’ defense and capitalized.
Palmer also noted the tremendous rebounding advantage enjoyed by Ralston Valley, which kept Rangeview from making serious overtures at taking the lead. The Raiders did make one early in the fourth quarter when sophomore Dario Washington attacked the rim for a layup that made it a one-point game (40-39) with just a minute gone.
Sharpshooting senior guard Caiden Bracketa then blew the game open and ended Rangeview’s championship hopes with a barrage from distance. Three consecutive 3-pointers — answered on by a free throw from Weatherspoon V — by Bracketa opened up the lead and senior Frank Psaute added another that made it an 11-point game midway through the final period.
A Duncan three-point play cut the deficit to seven points, but the Raiders got no closer.
Rangeview loses some key seniors, but expects to return the 1-2 punch of Duncan and Weatherspoon V, who should be hungrier in the wake of a second straight semifinal loss.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
2026 CLASS 6A BOYS BASKETBALL FINAL FOUR
March 14 at the Denver Coliseum
(2) RALSTON VALLEY 61, (3) RANGEVIEW 49
Score by quarters:
Ralston Valley 6 12 22 21 — 61
Rangeview 6 8 21 14 — 49
RANGEVIEW (49)
Aidan Perez 1 1-2 4, Archie Weatherspoon V 5 2-4 14, Anthony Andrew 5 0-0 13, Marceles Duncan 6 2-3 16, Conrad Marshall Jr. 0 0-0 0, Dario Washington 1 0-0 2, Tyson Tuck 0 0-0 0, Darris Davenport Jr. 0 0-0 0, Kevin Hernandez 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 5-9 49
RALSTON VALLEY (61)
Quentin Hansen 1 0-0 3, Zeke Andrews 8 3-4 19, Frank Psaute 2 1-1 7, Caiden Braketa 10 0-0 26, Alec Sungy 1 1-2 3, Cole Spain 1 0-0 3, Samson Wright 0 0-0 0, Cole Pfeifer 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 5-7 61
3-point field goals — Rangeview (8): Anthony Andrew 3, Marceles Duncan 2, Archie Weatherspoon V 2, Aidan Perez. Ralston Valley (10): Caiden Bracketa 6, Frank Psaute 2, Quentin Hansen, Cole Spain. Total fouls — Rangeview 13, Ralston Valley 11. Fouled out — None. Technical fouls — None.