Bluedevils overcome a tough Timberwolves team

Win streak ends at 18

BY JUAN ARRELLANO SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Toughness and resiliency are two words that can be used to describe the Fort Lupton boys’ basketball defense.

As Coach Jim Roedel put it after a come-from-behind win against a strong e Pinnacle (10-6) defense Feb. 9, “ at’s our staple right now. Our kids work hard defensively and they have the attitude. ey don’t know what losing is. Even when they get down a little bit, they just battle back, keep working hard.”

After beginning the season 0-2 with losses to e Academy (Westminster) and fth-ranked (in class 4A) Eaton (18-3), the Bluedevils have powered through and won 18 straight games, nishing undefeated in the league.

Senior Jesus Vasquez said after the win, “It’s great. It’s amazing that we can actually go 18-2 with an 18game win streak right now.: e Pinnacle wanted to break that streak in front of its fans. e home team opened the scoring but senior Joseph Gallegos responded with a 3-pointer for Fort Lupton.

Freshman Shane Callahan and junior William Sibanda added to the roaring Bluedevils’ start in the rst quarter, but the Timberwolves took over in the second quarter and were in the driver’s seat for most of the game.

“We were struggling to score after we got that initial start … got a good surge and then we got good looks, good shots just didn’t put the ball in the basket,” Roedel said. “But we continued to defend, and that’s what kept us in it .. kept it always around ve to six points so we can make a run late like we did and get a win.” ings seemed to go downhill for Fort Lupton. Shane Callahan fouled out with less than three minutes left in the fourth quarter, and Javon Gonzales missed two technical foul free throws right after. However, Gonzales got his revenge with one minute remaining, scoring two free throws and bring- ing the Bluedevils to three points of the Timberwolves 51-48.

Fort Lupton rallied late in the game and, o a defensive play with 17 seconds left in the clock, Vasquez stole the ball and scored an open layup. FLHS was up 52-51.

“It felt pretty good actually. I was struggling in the beginning half. I couldn’t score anything, I was always down on myself until that bucket. It just lifted me up, and it got that re in me,” said Vasquez.

“Essentially, they set a nice, good trap in the high area, found a good situation. ings we work on every day in practice like that … turned it over and wasn’t even a thought in their mind, just go score. I don’t even think if you ask them they knew how much time was left. He [Vasquez] just made the play and

SEE BASKETBALL, P13