The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“They were ready to play”
[ by Than Acuff ]
After a fast-paced first quarter during which the Crested Butte Titans and Gunnison Cowboys combined for 36 points, the Cowboys quickness and intensity took hold over the next three quarters to wear Crested Butte down and win 59-38.
Gunnison opened the game determined to dictate the pace of play and opened up a 14-5 lead as they crashed the boards with impunity to hammer the Titans. Crested Butte ultimately woke up and started battling back paced by baskets from Alan Prieto and Erik Wasinger and a big three-pointer from Jacob Bernholtz pulled the Titans to within two by the end of the first.
“Gunnison was coming at us hard and we gave up 10 offensive rebounds in the first quarter alone,” says head coach Brandin Hamilton. “But we shot the ball alright, got couple of threes, some easy buckets. It was kind of like they went on a run, we went on a run and that was the quarter.”
Prieto opened the second quarter with another three-pointer and things were looking good for Crested Butte to start but the Cowboys started to push even harder and slowly but surely started pulling away. In the midst of the Cowboys’ run the Titans lost Grayson White to injury leaving John Penny responsible to try and hold Gunnison’s 6’7” player in check. While the Titan offense struggled, their defense did a better job of slowing Gunnison down and Crested Butte was down just 31-21 at halftime.
“Offensively we couldn’t get into a rhythm, they did a good job of keeping us from playing offense with our personality,” says Hamilton. “It was a tough quarter but we were only down 10 so it was still a game.”
The Cowboys continued to push and push though and they opened the third quarter with a 12-2 run to pull ahead 41-31. Adding insult to injury, literally, the Titans then lost Penny to a calf cramp and Hamilton and the team were tasked with making additional adjustments.
“We got some guys that are willing to step in there and compete but we really didn’t have another post defender that could take on that role for Grayson and John,” says Hamilton.
Gunnison never did let up as they continued to build their lead eventually closing it out 59-38 by the final buzzer.
“It was a good opportunity for us to learn how to play when teams plan their games to shut down Erik,” says Hamilton. “Gunnison is a good team and I scheduled them early in the season because I wanted a tough game. They came ready to play. We got a talented group, we just weren’t ready.”
Prieto led the Titans with 13 points followed by Erik Wasinger with eight.
“Alan had a great game on both sides of the ball I thought,” says Hamilton. “He was ready for that game.”
The Titans open league play on Saturday, February 6 when they hit the road to face Center at 2 p.m. You can catch the game online at nfhsnetwork.com.
“I expect we will respond pretty well,” says Hamilton.
They remain on the road on Tuesday when they face the Telluride Miners in Telluride.
