Rangeview Ratchets Up Defense vs Cherokee Trail

From the outset of the game neither the Rangeview Raiders nor the Cherokee Trail Cougars was going to allow the other team to get into a transition game, Saturday night at Cherokee Trail High School.  The Raiders however did an excellent job whether they ran man or a zone defense of neutralizing Cherokee Trail’s scoring options and keeping them from the open court for most of the game. After the first quarter the Cougars had trouble stopping Rangeview’s senior forward Elijah Reed.

As the game began it felt like Rangeview senior Tyrei Randall was heading for a big game. The Cougars could not guard him. He slashed to the bucket, he hit a long three and dished out at least one assist to be responsible for 11 of the Raiders first 13 points. The Rangeview defense locked up the Cougars. The Cougars had four different people score in the quarter but only managed eight points.

Senior forward Elijah Reed took over in the second quarter for Rangeview. Reed with his lighting quick jumping ability and his touch around the basket was more than Cherokee Trail could handle. Reed scored nine points in the quarter and easily finished in double figures in rebounding for the game. Rangeview switched to playing zone a bit in the second quarter and that allowed only one person to score for the Cougars which was senior forward David Thornton. Thornton went to work in the paint and even made a 3 pointer to score 12 of the Cougars 14 points in the quarter. The rest of the Cougars were cold and could not hit a jump shot.  The Raiders led at half time 31-22.

In the second half the Raiders couldn’t land the knock out blow. But they tried. Rangeview scored the first five points of the half and built a 14 points lead. However Thornton and junior Jaizec Lottie answered with a combined five points to cut the led to 36-27 with just over four minutes to play in the quarter. This time though it was Rangeview’s Kris Hollins that answered the bell. The senior guard hit back to back corner three’s to push the Raider lead back to 14 with 1:37 left in the quarter. The Raider zone however wouldn’t allow the Cougars to get into a flow offensively unless not until the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter the Cougars turned the tide on the Raiders. The Raiders started the quarter off well out scoring the Cougars 6-4 and maintained an 11 point lead with 4:10 to play in the game. Cherokee Trial erupted for 14 points in the final four minutes with Lottie scoring 10 of them. Turnovers were the main culprit for the Raiders in the closing moments of the game. The turnovers allowed Lottie and other Cougars to get the ball out in transition and attack the basket and get to the foul line.

The Raiders remain undefeated with the 59-55 victory.

Double Digit Scorers

Rangeview

Elijah Reed 20

Tyrei Randall 13

Kris Hollins 12

Cherokee Trail 

David Thornton 19

Jaizec Lottie 16

The game of the week next week takes place when Rangeview travels to Regis