2013 HS Basketball – Bear Creek at Ralston Valley

By CarlAuer
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February 10, 2013
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Ralston Valley has really turned it around this season.  They started out this season going 1-5 and struggling, then they started to find their feet and started winning.  They are now sitting in third place in the Jeffco League for 5A schools.  But this game against the visiting Bear Creek Bears, they were short their top player, Spencer Svejcar who was out with an injury.

February 8th, 2013: Bear Creek Bears guard Robert Mendez dribbles the ball in the game at Ralston Valley in Arvada, Colorado
February 8th, 2013: Bear Creek Bears guard Robert Mendez dribbles the ball in the game at Ralston Valley in Arvada, Colorado

But the Mustangs jumped all over the visiting Bears right from tip off.  In the first quarter the home team from Ralston Valley out scored the visiting Bears of Bear Creek 19 to 7.  They looked in this first quarter like the loss of Svejcar was not going to hold them down.

February 8th, 2013: Bear Creek Bears forward Travis Sheets (34) and Ralston Valley Mustang forward Jonathon Gillespie (32) go after the ball in their game at Ralston Valley in Arvada, Colorado
February 8th, 2013: Bear Creek Bears forward Travis Sheets (34) and Ralston Valley Mustang forward Jonathon Gillespie (32) go after the ball in their game at Ralston Valley in Arvada, Colorado

But in the second quarter, Ralston Valley struggled a little bit.  The Bears held Ralston Valley to only 12 points in the second, but Bear Creek could only add 10 more points to their score.  The Bears were going to need to play much better defense on the Mustangs if they had any hope of coming back in the second half.  Going into halftime, Ralston Valley had a 31 to 17 lead.

February 8th, 2013: Bear Creek Bears guard D.J. Miles (1) puts a shot up in the game at Ralston Valley in Arvada, Colorado
February 8th, 2013: Bear Creek Bears guard D.J. Miles (1) puts a shot up in the game at Ralston Valley in Arvada, Colorado

When the third period started, the Bear Creek Bears were able to chip away some at the Mustangs first half lead.  The Bears actually outscored the Mustangs 13 to 11, but it was going to take a huge 4th quarter both offensively and defensively by Bear Creek to come back and win.  Ralston Valley still hung onto a 12 point lead with a score of 42-30 after 3 quarters.

February 8th, 2013: Bear Creek Bears guard Robert Mendez (10) dribbles the ball up court against Ralston Valley Mustang Rane Hornecker (0) in the game at Ralston Valley in Arvada, Colorado
February 8th, 2013: Bear Creek Bears guard Robert Mendez (10) dribbles the ball up court against Ralston Valley Mustang Rane Hornecker (0) in the game at Ralston Valley in Arvada, Colorado

Unfortunately for the visiting team, the Mustangs found their groove again in the fourth.  Ralston Valley added 18 points to the scoreboard and the Bears from Bear Creek could only find the hoop for another 12 points.

February 8th, 2013: Bear Creek Bears guard D.J. Miles (1) puts up a shot over the Ralston Valley Mustang defense in the game at Ralston Valley in Arvada, Colorado
February 8th, 2013: Bear Creek Bears guard D.J. Miles (1) puts up a shot over the Ralston Valley Mustang defense in the game at Ralston Valley in Arvada, Colorado

The Mustangs, minus Svejcar, got this important win in the Jeffco league game, 60 to 42.  One thing that really hurt the Bears was their offensive play.  I noticed a lot of me players.  And unfortunately, with the selfish play, there was not a lot of crashing the boards.  At times their defense was lacking any intensity.  Ralston Valley worked hard and earned this win.

February 8th, 2013: Ralston Valley Mustang freshman forward Dallas Walton (54) tries to grab the rebound from the visiting Bear Creek Bears in their game at Ralston Valley High School in Arvada, Colorado
February 8th, 2013: Ralston Valley Mustang freshman forward Dallas Walton (54) tries to grab the rebound from the visiting Bear Creek Bears in their game at Ralston Valley High School in Arvada, Colorado

In order for Ralston Valley to have a decent post season, they are going to have to turn it up and get some important wins.  The next game, away against Standley Lake should be a win for the Mustangs, but then the next three games to close out the season will be at home and they will need to win those games against Columbine, Dakota Ridge and Arvada West.

February 8th, 2013: Ralston Valley Mustang forward Jonathan Gillespie (32) lays up a shot in the game against Bear Creek High School at Ralston Valley High School in Arvada, Colorado
February 8th, 2013: Ralston Valley Mustang forward Jonathan Gillespie (32) lays up a shot in the game against Bear Creek High School at Ralston Valley High School in Arvada, Colorado

The Arvada West game will be the biggest game of the season for Ralston Valley.  They went in to A-West and beat the higher ranked Wildcats on their home court.  This time the roles will more than likely be reversed with Ralston Valley, the home team this time, ranked higher than the Wildcats.  It will most likely be a rowdy gym since the seating area at Ralston Valley is much smaller than that of Arvada West, and the game at A-West was close to standing room only.

February 8th, 2013: A Bear Creek Bears player and a Ralston Valley Mustang both take to the floor to grab at the ball in their game at Ralston Valley High School in Arvada, Colorado
February 8th, 2013: A Bear Creek Bears player and a Ralston Valley Mustang both take to the floor to grab at the ball in their game at Ralston Valley High School in Arvada, Colorado

To view and purchase photos from this game, please visit Maxpreps.

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