LAKEWOOD — Evergreen is officially the front-runner in the race for the Class 4A Jeffco League boys basketball title.
The Cougars — No. 7 in this week’s CHSAANow.com 4A boys hoops rankings — took a 1-game lead in the conference with a 54-41 victory over No. 12 Green Mountain on Wednesday night on the Rams’ home court.
“It’s a huge game. This puts us in a good spot to run the table the rest of the way,” Evergreen senior Jackson Mott said of the Cougars winning the conference title.
Evergreen senior Jared Stiller (13) had a solid night with 13 points against Green Mountain on Wednesday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
It has been awhile since Evergreen has claimed a boys basketball league title. The 2003-04 season was the last time the Cougars won a conference crown.
“It was kind of revenge. We had these guys and Golden marked on our calendars,” Evergreen senior Griffin Lauritano said. “This is a really tough place to play against a really well-coached team. To get a win like this was good. Now we control our own destiny. We just have to take care of business the rest of the way.”
Evergreen finished tied for fourth in 4A Jeffco last season. The senior-laded Cougars had a clear focus this season on ending the league championship drought. Evergreen has four more league games — Littleton, Conifer, D’Evelyn and Alameda — that count toward the conference standings.
“We are looking forward to the next four (league games) and hopefully see what happens in the state tournament,” Evergreen coach Jeff Dolan said.
The Cougars (5-1, 4-0 in league) grabbed its fifth straight victory of the season after an opening season loss at home against No. 3 Longmont. Evergreen’s defense has been remarkable. The Cougars haven’t allowed an opponent over 45 points in any game this season.
“That has really been our identity,” Mott said of the Cougars tireless defensive effort. “It gives us a chance to win every game.”
No. 12 Green Mountain (4-2, 3-1) came in averaging nearly 70 points per game, but were held to 24 points through three quarters. Senior Austin Peterson caught fire for the Rams in the fourth quarter scoring 14 of his game-high 20 points in the final quarter, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Evergreen’s 20-point lead.
Green Mountain junior Luke Davis (3) had 8 points off the bench for the Rams, but it wasn’t enough as Green Mountain’s 4-game winning streak came to an end Wednesday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
The Cougars had a 15-0 run that spanned from late in the third quarter until a few minutes into the fourth quarter that gave Evergreen the cushion it needed. Green Mountain saw its 4-game winning streak come to an end.
“It’s great. We are excited about the rivalry win over Green Mountain,” Dolan said. “In the third and beginning of the fourth we started to turn it up.”
Lauritano (14 points) and senior Jared Stiller (13 points) dominated the inside offensively for the Cougars. Mott (14 points) and senior Aaron Browne (9 points) canned three 3-pointers each to jumpstart Evergreen from the outside.
“Mott struggled a little early, but that kid works out every single day,” Dolan said. “Same thing with Aaron, he is a shooter. They hit them in a big, big game. They are seniors and are experienced. They have played in games like this before.”
Evergreen heads to Littleton (3-3, 2-2) on Friday to face the Lions in an attempt to extend its winning streak to six.
Green Mountain is on the road Friday against Wheat Ridge (4-3, 3-2).
Evergreen senior Griffin Lauritano, left, is guarded by Green Mountain senior Dylan Green during the first quarter Wednesday. The Cougars grabbed a big 54-41 victory against the Rams to take a 1-game lead in the race for the Class 4A Jeffco League title. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)