Boys varsity basketball celebrates seniors

The Niwot boys varsity basketball team suffered two losses this week against highly-ranked Legacy High School and the Cougars' cross-town rival, Silver Creek High School. The game against Legacy on Tuesday, Feb. 4 ended with the Cougars on the short end of a 76-44 score, while Friday's Senior Night battle was close until the final minutes, with Silver Creek coming out on top, 56-42, leaving the Cougars eager for a win as the season winds down.

Rohit Das led the Cougars in scoring against Legacy with 17 points, and also led the team in rebounds with five.

Although the number of wins have been low this year, the team fought hard on Friday night with the stands packed to cheer on the seniors.

The Cougars started out strong, winning the tipoff which was closely followed by a layup from senior Taylor Rodanski. The starting lineup included Rodanksi, along with fellow seniors Das, Sebastian Stenz, Archer Buckbee, and Luke Demmel. Shortly after the tipoff, Stenz scored another three points for the team, leading to thunderous applause and cheers from the student section.

With 6:41 on the clock, Silver Creek Coach Bob Banning, who led Niwot to its only state title early in his career, called a timeout to reassess the match, leading to a small celebration from the Cougars. Before the end of the first quarter two more three-pointers by Rodanski and Das helped put Niwot up, 15-8.

The Cougars started the second quarter strong, however, multiple turnovers led to a change in the lead, with the Raptors going up 21-19 with 3:10 left on the clock in the second quarter, a lead they extended to 29-23 by halftime.

Senior Luke Demmel had a significant impact on Silver Creek's offense, aggressively defending the basket, but he earned three fouls by the end of the third quarter. Demmel's defense was not enough to bring back the lead, however. After the Raptors opened up a 12-point lead, 37-25, Niwot junior Elliot Wisecup stole the ball and fed Das for a field goal. After an offensive foul on Silver Creek, Wisecup hit from 3-point range to close the gap to 37-30 in favor of the Raptors.

At that point, officials called a technical foul on one of the Cougar players, apparently for clapping in celebration after Wisecup's 3-pointer, seemingly a misapplication of CHSAA's emphasis on sportsmanship. Though Silver Creek converted only one of the free throws, Niwot's momentum suffered, and going into the fourth quarter, Niwot was down 40-33.

In the final period, the Raptors increased their lead. Niwot junior Henry Noblin scored on a putback to bring the Cougars within nine points at 46-37, but that was as close as Niwot would get. Although the team continued to fight until the end, fouls resulting in free throws for Silver Creek allowed the Raptors to expand the lead, with the final score 56-42.

Das led the Cougar scoring with 13 points, and Noblin led with 11 rebounds, but 21 turnovers doomed Niwot in the end. Though the loss was disappointing, it did not dampen spirits in the stands, as students continued to stomp and cheer in celebration of the hardworking seniors on the team.

The five senior teammates have brought a new kind of spirit to the varsity team on and off the court, leading the team through workouts, lifts, and early morning training sessions with positivity and commitment. "Each of our five seniors brings a unique skill set that has impacted our program at all levels tremendously," Coach Walker Bounds said after considering the team's individual strengths throughout the season.

When asked about the positives of the game despite the loss, Bounds commented, "Our program has seen a big improvement in emotional toughness and resiliency over the past few weeks." He said the five starting seniors on the team have been a huge inspiration to younger players. "Sebastian, Archer, Taylor and Luke serenaded the team with their Christmas caroling at our holiday team dinner," he recalled. "Our seniors have improved greatly in the leadership department as the season has progressed. All five of them have a unique ability to lead. Whether it is by example or vocally, they have done a great job leading our team."

Hopes are high for a win in their upcoming matches against Monarch High School on Tuesday, Feb. 11 and against Frederick High School on Thursday, Feb. 13.