Blake’s Big Shots Lead Rangeview Past Aurora Central
www.BasketballColorado.com
2/11/15
Aurora, CO – Sophomore Elijah Blake lead the well balanced Rangview Raiders past the Aurora Central Trojans Wednesday night at Rangeview High School 66-50 . The showdown between perennial powers in the EMAC did not disappoint. Both teams played true to themselves attacking the basket with each opportunity.
Central jumped out in the first quarter to an early seven point lead behind balanced scoring of juniors Daytone Jennings, Elijah Coleman and sophomore Marquise Johnson. Central started to lose some steam once Jennings picked up his second foul with 2:45 to play in the quarter. With out Jennings in Rangeview clawed its way back behind seniors Jalen Davis, Tim Wyatt and Tarren Storey-Way leading a 9-2 run to close out the quarter.
Jalen Guidry’s 3 at the buzzer tied the game at 17.
With Jennings sitting out the beginning of the second quarter the Raiders owned the boards on both ends of the floor primary with the play of junior forward Elijah Reed and Storey-Way. The Trojans did not shoot very well in the second quarter and had minimal offensive rebounds. While the Raiders rebounding was successful they failed to put much distance between them and the Trojans. The Raiders did not shot particularly well either in the quarter. With the quarter coming to a close LaDarius Thomas hit a 3 pointer just before the buzzer to cut the lead to three points, 29-26.
Thomas came out shooting in the second half for Central hitting a 3 pointer to tie the game on his way to 8 points in the quarter. Central was able to keep Rangeview within striking distance despite junior Tyrei Randall scoring six points in the first five minutes of the quarter and Jennings being saddled with foul trouble. With less then a minute left Jennings hit a basket that cut the Raiders lead to 39-37, that is when Blake went to work. Using a high screen Blake came down and hit back to back three pointers to give the Raiders a 45-37 lead at the end of the quarter. Blakes big shots broken open the game for the Raiders.
When Randall hit a corner three to start the 4th quarter that cemented the lead for the Raiders. The Riders maintained an 11-13 point lead much of the fourth quarter. Despite seven points from Thomas in the quarter the Trojans were unable to create the turnovers need nor were they able to get defensive rebounds to keep the Raiders from scoring or kicking the ball out and running time off the clock. The win pretty much wraps up another EMAC title for the Raiders, unless they happen to lose two out of the last three games.
Double Digit Scorers
Aurora Central
LaDarius Thomas 20
Jennings 14 points 9 rebounds
Rangeview
Wyatt 11
Davis 11
Blake 15
Randall 13
