The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“They are capable of being giant killers”
What can one say about the Crested Butte boys’ basketball team? If nothing else, the team’s got heart. After an error-filled loss to Sierra Grande on Thursday night, the Titans recovered the next night for one of their gutsiest efforts of the season against fifth-ranked Primero, before closing their three-game stretch with a win over Mountain Valley on Saturday, December 19.
The weekend opened with the Titans against the Sierra Grande Panthers, a classic speedy San Luis Valley team that proved troublesome for the young Titan squad.
Sierra Grande’s speed up the court kept the Titans on their heels in the first quarter. Fortunately, the work of sophomore Anton Peck kept the Titans close through the first eight minutes, as Peck scored six of the Titans’ eight points to remain within three of the Panthers heading into the second quarter.
The rest of the Titans’ team picked up on Peck’s effort in the second quarter. Junior Sky Egelhoff hit back-to-back 12-foot jumpers, and junior Jake Grogg and senior Emmett McFarland dropped in a basket each. Peck gave the Titans a 20-19 lead driving to the hole for a layup but Sierra Grande’s speed took control once again to close the half with a three-point lead.
Confusion in their zone defense left the Titans scrambling through the third quarter and the Panthers hit eight of 11 free throws to build a 36-27 lead.
The Titans continued to struggle on offense in the fourth quarter as Sierra Grande sealed the Titans’ fate with free throw shooting to hand Crested Butte a disappointing 49-39 loss.
“We weren’t ready to play,” says coach Robin Loyed. “Their quickness just blew us away. We had 18 turnovers and you can’t do that.”
With fourth-ranked Primero up next for the Titans, things needed to change quickly if Crested Butte were to have any semblance of a chance at an upset, let alone a close game.
While the Titans’ first five possessions were dubious at best, the team’s defense managed to hold Primero scoreless as well. The two teams settled down and started trading baskets until the final minute, when Primero put together a short run to take a six-point lead.
Nerves tripped up the Titans on offense in the second quarter as they missed a couple of opportunities in the paint.
Primero nickel – and – dimed their way to a 10-point lead by halftime and built their lead to 14 points early in the third quarter poised to blow the game wide open.
But the Titans fought back with Grogg and Peck working hard in the paint and Egelhoff knocking down a couple big jump shots to cut into Primero’s lead and close the gap back down to six points.
As has been the case so far for the Titans though, inconsistency hit once more and Primero scored the final seven points to take a 43-30 lead into the fourth quarter.
Once again, Primero was looking to finish the Titans off for good but Crested Butte just would not go away.
Egelhoff and Grogg stepped to the free-throw line and hit four-of-four, Grogg stepped back to drain a 14-foot jump shot and Peck rose up through traffic for two more cutting Primero’s lead back down to seven points.
Two more free throws from Grogg and a tear drop from Peck had the Titans within striking distance, but foul trouble soon reared its ugly head as both Grogg and junior point guard Henry Linehan were sent to the bench with five fouls with just under two minutes left to play.
As time dwindled, Peck pulled down an offensive board, scored and was fouled. Peck hit the free throw, cutting Primero’s lead down to three with 11 seconds left in the game.
The Titans press forced a turnover setting them up for the game-tying three-point attempt but the shot missed its mark as Primero escaped with the 50-47 win.
Peck led the team with 20 points, 10 rebounds, six steals and two blocks. Grogg joined Peck with a double-double as well scoring 12 points and grabbing 12 rebounds and the Titans defense held Primero, a team that averages close to 70 points per game, to just 50 points.
“I was really proud of our defense,” says Loyed. “It would have been easy to fold and just get beat like a drum. I’m disappointed we lost that game, but that game showed our guys what they are capable of doing. They are capable of being giant killers.”
The Titans then headed to Mountain Valley on Saturday hoping to close the weekend on a positive note. A quick start and solid finish paved the way for Crested Butte success as they handed Mountain Valley a 48-30 defeat.
Paced by solid shooting from Egelhoff and sophomore Luis Aguirre the Titans took a 14-7 lead after the first quarter.
The Titans slowed up in the second and third quarters, allowing Mountain Valley to climb back into the game. The Titans switched gears on defense mixing in a half court trap and then turned up the heat in the fourth quarter pressing Mountain Valley from end-to-end.
The move devastated Mountain Valley as the Titans outscored them 15-4 in the fourth to close with the 48-30 win.
“We ended up beating a team we should have but we sure made it exciting along the way,” says Loyed. “Every game is an exciting adventure this year.”
Egelhoff led the team with 14 points, Peck had 10 and Grogg scored eight points, had six assists and six rebounds but the big push came from freshmen Graham Koval and Jesse Reeves.
With Linehan gone, Koval stepped in to run the offense and put up five assists, five rebounds, a block and four steals.
“He was tremendous,” says Loyed.
Reeves was called upon as well and delivered with six points, two rebounds and two steals.
“He was outstanding when he was on the floor,” says Loyed. “I’m really excited about how they played.”
The Titans take a break from games for the holidays and return to action Friday, January 8 with a home game in Mt. Olympus against Moffat.
“Where we go from here is anybody’s guess,” says Loyed. “The challenge for me is to get the guys ready to play every night. It’s going to be fun to watch.”
