Niwot High boys basketball falls to 3-2 after tough week

The Niwot High School boys basketball team started hot with a 3-0 start to the season before a tough second week. The Cougars took on Roosevelt High School and Silver Creek High School, falling in both games.

Niwot started the week on Tuesday against the Roosevelt Roughriders, playing their first away game of the year. The Roughriders gave Niwot its first loss of the year, outscoring the Cougars 48-40.

Walker Bounds, NHS boys basketball coach said, “I was encouraged by the team sticking together after a tough loss. They are a tight-knit group that handles adversity well. We are a young team with only one returning varsity player. We will continue to learn and improve in every game and every practice.”

But the game wasn’t without its bright spots. Junior Archer Buckbee led the team with 12 points on 44% efficiency from the field, grabbing three rebounds and an assist. Jackson Carano got himself 10 points on 67% shooting, with seven rebounds, an assist, a steal, and a block. Sebastian Stenz also got 10 points, shooting 50% from the floor, along with two rebounds and two assists. Luke Demmel and Brighton Langenegger got four points each to round out the scoring. Langenegger led the team with eight rebounds and led the team with three assists.

Niwot’s next matchup was against the Silver Creek Raptors who have dominated all year long with a 5-0 record and a senior-dominated roster. Silver Creek, coached by former NHS coach Bob Banning, came out strong against Niwot with a 23-7 first quarter and never looked back. The Raptors went on to win 80-32, bumping Niwot down to 3-2 on the season.

Langenegger led the way for Niwot with 12 points on 67% shooting, while freshman Jake Gardner’s seven, Buckbee’s five, Stenz's three, and Demmels’ two rounded out the scoring. Langenegger also led in rebounds, getting seven of Niwot’s 17. Buckbee led Niwot in assists, with two of Niwot’s eight.

Niwot has another tough week ahead as they take on 3-1 Riverdale Ridge High School on Tuesday, before playing 2-2 Severance High School on Thursday. Both games are at Niwot at 7 pm. Niwot will have one more game against Longmont High School the following Tuesday before reaching Winter Break and the midseason point.