Rivalry basketball game goes Legacy’s way

BY JONATHAN MANESS SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

BROOMFIELD – e Legacy High School boys basketball team used a quick start to y by Horizon in front of a packed house Feb. 10.

e Lightning led from the jump as they sti ed the Hawks’ o ense to beat their rivals 59-45.

“It’s an awesome rivalry,” Legacy coach Connor Clay said. “Horizon is a great program. A lot of these kids grew up with each other, and our student sections know each other. Just a great environment.” at energy was on full display early for the Lightning, as they kept Horizon shutout for the rst four minutes of the contest. ey forced the Hawks into several miscues, causing turnovers and challenging Horizon’s shots.

Legacy’s defense also led to opportunistic chances. Bryce Spradling scored a fast-break basket, and Christian Regnier nailed a t3-point shot to give the Lightning an early 10-0 advantage.

“(Defense) is our best shot at winning games,” Clay said. “We have a lot of pieces defensively, and our team loves to play defense, which is huge.”

Max ornton ended Horizon’s drought with a trey. But miscues continued to hinder the Hawks. Spradling hit an open 3-pointer, and Ari Harpring and Brandon Domsch each scored o turnovers to give the Hawks a 21-7 advantage after the rst.

Legacy (16-5 overall, 10-3 in Front Range e Hawks went on a mini run to start the second half. Aiden Greene hit a trey, while Kaden Northrup and Brady Greene each added baskets to cut the lead to 32-25. However, Legacy came roaring back with a 13-2 run with baskets from Bryce and Nathan Spradling to push the lead to 18. Horizon’s Alex McCollum scored a basket to close the quarter and cut the lead to 46-33.

League) pushed its lead to 18 with a basket by Nathan Spradling and free throws by Isaac Ward. Horizon did get some momentum late in the half with a pair of baskets from Kaleb Kimaita and Tyreese Robison – who also hit a buzzer beater -to cut the lead to 28-17 at the half.

Once again, Horizon cut into the lead in the fourth. Aiden Greene scored six quick points to cut the lead to 51-41. However, baskets by Harping and Bryce Spradling and sealed the victory for Legacy.

Bryce Spradling scored a game-high 16 points, while Nathan Spradling added 11. Nine players scored for the Lightning.

“ e ball chooses the scorer,” Clay said. “We are sel ess, and we move the ball. We don’t get to choose who scores. e ball does.”

Horizon dropped to 8-13 overall and 6-7 in FRL through play last week.

Legacy was due to close the regular season Feb. 14, after press time with an away contest against the Fort Collins Lambkins. Horizon is scheduled to face Mountain Range ursday, Feb. 16, to cap its regular season.

Legacy’s Matthew Clifton puts Eaglecrest’s Jaedynn Pham in a bit of a spot during a quarterfinal match at 120 pounds during the class 5A Region 4 tournament at Chatfield High School Feb. 10. Clifton won this match by major decision and placed third in his weight class. He qualified for the state tournament.

Riverdale Ridge High School

Boys wrestling e state 4A tournament begins ursday, Feb. 16, at Ball Arena.

COLORADO SPRINGS -- Four Riverdale Ridge wrestlers quali ed for the state 4A wrestling tournament after the class 4A Region 1 tournament at Discovery Canyon High School.

AJ Hague (120 pounds) won the regional title. Mikey Medina (106) nished second. Ariel Villalobos won a wrestleback at 132 pounds to place fourth. Lino Oliverez (175) also won a wrestleback to earn his spot at state.

Ian Ingalls (126) took fth after losing in a wrestlbeack. dayson Leschink nished sixth.

Girls wrestling

BROOMFIELD -- Riverdale Ridge’s Natasha Kuberski (31-7 this year) quali ed for the state meet. She took second at 235 pounds at the girls Region 3 meet at Broom eld High School Feb. 10.

Boys basketball

Ryan Leopold scored a career- and a team career-high 44 points for the Ravens as they beat Fort Morgan 108-61 in ornton Feb. 9. Leopold also sank a team- and school best nine, 3-point baskets.

Sports Scorecard

Riverdale Ridge topped Mountain View 44-33 in Loveland Feb. 7. Javi Carrillo led the Mountain Lions with 19 points. Noa Phillips scored nine. No stats were available for the Ravens.

Girls basketball

Riverdale Ridge beat Mountain View 75-44 in Loveland Feb. 7. Freshman Brihanna Crittendon scored 43 points for the Ravens. Gabby Herr added 16, and Cimionie Martinez tossed in 13. No stats were available for the Mountain Lions.

Skyview High School

Girls wrestling

BROOMFIELD -- Sophia Lucero from Skyview High School was able to qualify for the girls wrestling tournament this year. She placed fourth at 155 pounds.

Atlee Brooks (170 pounds) took fth.

Girls basketball

Skyview beat Gateway 65-18 in ornton. No stats were available for either team.

Green Mountain rallied in the third quarter to top Skyview 53-50 in Lakewood Feb. 6. Neveah Lucero scored 18 points for the Wolverines. Leila Estraded added 15. Jayda Maves scored 35 points for the Rams.

Boys basketball

Gateway got past Skyview 48-42 in Aurora Feb. 7. No stats were available for either team.

Holy Family High School

Wrestling e state tourney begins ursday, Feb. 16, at Ball Arena in Denver.

Five Holy Family wrestlers qualied for this week’s state 3A wrestling tournament.

Abram Moore won the 220-pound title at the class 3A Region 3 tournament on the Tigers’ mats. After a rst-round bye, he pinned both his opponents en route to the championship. Brayden Bach placed second at 106 pounds. Alexander Austin (170 pounds) was second. Camden Austin, the Tigers’ 195-pounder, nished third. Lorenzo Avila (113 pounds) took fourth. He earned a forfeit win in a wrestleback against Valley’s Jacen Weese.

Nick McCarthy was fth at 145 pounds. Jonathan Aiello (138) nished sixth, as did Dustin Pedro at 152 pounds and Alexander Brandenberg at 160 pounds.

Swimming

THORNTON -- Here are Holy Family’s results from the state 3A swimming and diving championships:

200-yard medley relay: 4. C. Chapman, E. Chapman, L. Frauenfelder, I. Wood, 1:52.17. 200- freestyle: 19. Ivy Wood, 2:11.2. 100- butter y: 18. K. Tucker, 1:05.66. 100- freestyle: 2. L. Frauenfelder, 52.13 seconds. 200- freestyle relay: 10. E. Musgrove, M. Moosbrugger, A. Cooney, I. Wood, 1:47.26. 100-backstroke: 4. C. Chapman, 59.75 seconds. 400- freestyle relay: 5. S. Norwell, I. Wood, C. chapman, L. Frauenfelder, 3:47.33.

Girls basketball

Holy family beat Longmont 6236 in Broom eld Feb. 8. Essynce Contreraz scored 16 points for the Tigers. Fiona Snashall added 15, and Gracie Ward poured in a dozen. Savannah Pohl topped the Trojans’ score sheet with 11 points. Janiah Wright added 10.

Boys basketball

Longmont outscored Holy Family 59-47 on the Tigers’ oor Feb. 8. No stats were available.

Legacy High School

Girls wrestling

BROOMFIELD -- Legacy’s Cassandra Mehia nished second at 235 pounds at the class 3A Region

SEE SCORECARD, P24