Titan boys dominate Cripple Creek Pioneers in Mt. Olympus

Pack the Gym Friday, January 20

The Crested Butte Titans boys’ basketball team is starting to find its rhythm and look to surge in the final month of the regular season. After putting up a tough fight against the Sargent Farmers in Sargent on Friday, January 13, the Titans returned to Mt. Olympus to decimate the Cripple Creek Pioneers 64-37.
The Farmers bring two talented scorers to the floor with a host of support from the rest of the team. And while the scouting report had the Farmers as big shooters with low percentages, they brought their A-game against the Titans.
“They shot lights out,” says Hamilton.
The Titans stayed in the game down just three points at the half and Hamilton switched to a zone defense in the third quarter giving the Titans an advantage.
The Titans built a four-point lead in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter but when junior point guard Jesse Reeves fouled out, the game fell apart for the Titans, falling 56-46. Sargent’s half court trap caused the Titans trouble all game and when Reeves was out, it handcuffed Crested Butte.
“It was tough, it was there for us,” says Hamilton. “We didn’t do enough of the small things and we didn’t handle the ball as well as we could have.”
Kane Hamilton led the Titans with 21 points and eight rebounds. Junior Ryan Costello scored 13 points and grabbed five boards, and Reeves finished the game with 11 points.
The Titans game on Saturday against Cripple Creek was an entirely different story. The tone was set in the first minute when Reeves stole the ball and dished it to Kane for his first of two dunks on the night, joining Brent Fowler, Matt Martin and John Wright as the only players to take it above the rim during a game in mighty Mt. Olympus.
The Pioneers tried to slow the Titans down with a zone defense but Kane had his way in the paint while Reeves struck from the perimeter. Reeves closed the explosive first quarter with a 12-foot jumper to give the Titans a 21-6 lead.
The Titans continued to drop the ball inside to Kane in the second quarter. When Kane was covered, Costello answered the call, hitting a handful of mid-range jumpers. Meanwhile, senior Sean Johnson battled on the boards and got several looks underneath; when Kane was double-teamed with the ball, he dumped it to Johnson for open looks at the basket.
“They’re starting to gel, play with each other and exploit the weak side,” says Brandin. “We exploited our height inside and played good defense in the first half.”
Adding insult to injury, the Titans pressed, forcing Cripple Creek to turn the ball over several times for additional easy baskets for the Titans.
Four Titans finished the game scoring in double digits, led by Kane with 26 points. Reeves followed with 15, Costello dropped in 11 and Johnson added 10. Senior Luis Aguirre led the team with six assists and no turnovers.
“He’s taken his role and doing well with it,” says Brandin of Aguirre.
The Titans host Sanford on Friday, January 20. Games start at 3 p.m. with the boys varsity set to tip off 7:30 p.m. It’s also Pack the Gym night and the Titans ask that the community come out and fill the stands for the big game.
“Sanford is undefeated in the league,” says Brandin. “It should be a good game and we’re fired up.”