Vista win over rival is instant classic

ThunderRidge loses in double overtime

BY ALEX K.W. SCHULTZ SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

e Mountain Vista and underRidge boys basketball teams have authored plenty of great moments together throughout their decades-old rivalry.

But the Golden Eagles and Grizzlies’ latest production, an all-out war on Feb. 17 inside a loud and jam-packed underRidge gymnasium, might very well have been the two programs’ magnum opus.

e crosstown rivals pounded on each other deep into the night. irty-two minutes of regulation wasn’t enough to settle things. Neither was overtime.

Finally, momentum swing after momentum swing, big play after big play, incredible moment after incredible moment, Vista prevailed 103-99 in double overtime in what was nothing short of an instant classic.

e win completed a perfect run in league play for the Golden Eagles, Colorado’s No. 1-ranked team. It was also Vista’s rst win over underRidge in three years.

“I’ve been a part of a lot of basketball games in my life. at was probably the best one,” Vista coach Brian Wood said. “It would be nice if nobody had to lose on a night like this.”

In the other locker room, longtime Grizzlies coach Joe

Ortiz had something similar to say: “[ underRidge and Vista] have had a lot of classic games. is was one of them for sure.”

No question.

In the second overtime, Charlie Spann’s 3-pointer from the top of the key shaved Vista’s lead to 100-99 with 52 seconds remaining.

After a Golden Eagles timeout, Vista’s Radek Homer was fouled on a driving attempt and coolly sank both of his free throws. en, with less than 10 seconds left, Andrew Crawford’s would-be-tying 3-point attempt from the left wing seemingly went halfway down before coughing out.

Homer hit the back end of a pair of free throws on Vista’s ensuing possession to essentially seal the win for the Golden Eagles.

“ at was one of the best high school games I’ve ever played in,” said Crawford, who was sensational all night, scoring a game-high and mind-boggling 48 points. “We fought hard. We almost got it.” e nal moments of regulation were as dramatic as any basketball game at any level could ever produce.

Spann connected on a mid-range jumper with 34 seconds left to spot underRidge a 2-point lead at 72-70.

On Vista’s next possession, Cal Baskind buried a clutch 3-pointer to return the lead to Vista with 10 seconds to go.