Rangeview Takes Regular Season Finale Over Valor
By Matt Langley
2/20/2014
Highlands Ranch, CO – The high anticipated match up between the 5A No. 5 Rangeview Raiders and 4A No. 1 Valor Christian Eagles lived up to the hype Thursday Night at Valor Christian High School. The Raiders and Eagles spent the first half feeling each other out but in the second half both teams came out scoring at will. The Raiders senior guard Jeremiah Paige took the game over in the late third quarter and dominated the fourth to lead Rangeview to the 83-76 victory.
The first quater started with Rangeview jumping out to to a 7-0 lead after a basket by junior Tarren Storey-Way. The Raiders took full advantage of Eagle turnoversas the game seemed a bit too fast for the Eagles. However, Valor settled down after senior Christian McCaffery dove for a steal then passed ahead to senior Chase Foster fora two handed dunk. Rangeview answered when junior Jaylen Davis sank his second deep 3 pointer of the quarter. Valor then went on a 9-0 run over the next 2 minutes to take a 13-10 lead with less than a minute to play. Rangeview senior Jeremiah Paige drained a three pointer in the late moments of the quarter to tie the score 13-13.
The game remained close in the second quarter. Niether team gained more than a five point lead as both team teams answered each other scoring runs. Senior Trey Bridges started Rangeview’s first run with a 3 pointer then Paige scored giving the Raiders a 18-13 lead 2 minutes into the quarter. Then Foster and McCaffery combined for a 6-0 run to retake the lead with 4:30 left. The two teams traded baskets until Rangeview junior Tim Wyatt and Bridges combined for 5 points to give the Raiders 29-26 lead with 30 seconds left in the half. The Eagles answered with another 6-0 run, four by McCaffery in the last 20 seconds, to take a 32-29 lead into halftime.
3rd quarter
Both teams must have put on their track shoes at halftime as the combined for 99 points in the half. Valor Was able to bulid a 6 point lead with 4:30 left int he quarter by scoring in the paint and getting offensive rebounds. In a game of scoring runs Rangewview answered with a 7-2 run that cut the Valor lead to one with 2:27 left. Rangeview’s Paige took over the rest of the quarter. With the score 49-46 Valor, Paige hit a 3 giving tying the game but an off ball foul was called on Valor and gave the ball back to Rangeview. Paige moments later knocked won another 3 pointer giving Rangeview a 52-49 lead with 55 seconds left in the quarter. Rangeview took a 54-51 lead in to the 4th quarter
The fourth quarter belong to Paige. He scored 6 of Rangeview’s first 8 points of the quarter on his way to 19 points for the quarter. Foster kept Valor in the game going 5 of 6 from the free throw line keeping the Eagles within striking distance. Paige then scored nine poins over the last two minutes of teh game including a three point play with 54 seconds left to give the Raiders an eight point lead. Valor wasn’t done though, as free throws from McCaffery cut the lead to four points with 41 seconds left. After Paige free throws, McCaffery got a bucket to cut the Rangeview lead to four again. But Valor was unable to take advantage of missed free throws and then turned the ball over. Rangeview took the thriller 83-76.
