Niwot boys basketball falls to Longmont 50-33

Niwot High School boys basketball's final game of 2022 against local rival, the Longmont High School Trojans, resulted in Niwot's 50-33 loss. The loss compliments a theme of defensive success, but a lack of offensive production which has cost the Cougars long-term.

The 50 points allowed were highlighted by a fourth-quarter shutdown that resulted in only six points being notched, with Niwot's 16 points in the third quarter shining some hope on an otherwise poor offensive performance.

Niwot struggled early on, scoring only six points in the first quarter, and allowing 15 to be put up by the Trojans. The second quarter was a similar struggle, as the Cougars only put two points on the board, falling down 25-8 at the half.

Niwot almost made a second-half comeback, with Jereck Funkhouser scoring 14 points in the third quarter, generating what almost was a close game, but Longmont's 19-point quarter kept the game far from victory. The game ended with Niwot outsourcing Longmont 9-6 in the fourth quarter, but it was too little too late, resulting in a 50-33 loss.

In terms of points, Funkhouser led the way, putting up 22 points in the game, and dominating the scoreboard. There weren't a lot of assists to go around, with only a handful of players being able to snag one or two.

Zachary Dawson and Jackson Carano both posted 4 rebounds, with a couple of blocks split between them. Niwot struggled for the same reasons they have struggled all year: turnovers and field goal percentage, with both numbers being some of the lowest in the season.

With 13 games scheduled for the latter part of the season, the team's future is not predetermined. With winter break ahead of them, Niwot has plenty of time to prepare, and snap their 4-game losing streak.