Niwot boys basketball embracing adversity

The Niwot High School varsity boys basketball team has suffered its fair share of defeats this season, but that hasn't kept head coach Walker Bounds and his players from approaching each game with intensity.

Following a particularly heartbreaking loss at Frederick High School on Thursday, Feb. 13, Bounds credited his Cougars for staying locked in through a difficult stretch.

"I've been really pleased with the way this team has handled adversity," Bounds said. "We've had a tough year and a losing streak, so I'm proud of them for continuing to show up to practice every day and work hard and put ourselves in positions to win games. That's all we can ask for at the end of the day. We can't guarantee a win, but if we can put ourselves in a chance to win a game, that's all we can really ask for."

Bounds' comments came after Niwot fell to Frederick in overtime, 50-46, marking the Cougars' 13th straight loss.

Fueled by senior Rohit Das draining six 3-pointers, Niwot led the Golden Eagles by three points late in the fourth quarter before running out of steam. Frederick's Dante Lechuga helped force overtime with a game-tying 3-pointer, and the Golden Eagles kept Niwot scoreless in the extra period to secure victory.

"We were happy to be in a position to go into overtime, but we weren't able to execute in the end," said Niwot junior Henry Noblin. "It's a tough loss."

Bounds, a former assistant coach at Frederick, remained proud of his Cougars' fight against a likewise resilient Golden Eagles team.

"Props to Frederick," Bounds said. "This is why we play the game, to have games like this. It's always fun. It's not fun to come out on this side of the game, but this is why we do it – to compete and have fun."

Das, who made three shots from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter alone, finished with a season-high 24 points, accounting for over half of Niwot's 46 total points. Behind Das, fellow seniors Archer Buckbee and Luke Demmel each scored five, Noblin had four, and junior Elliot Wisecup added three.

"We played together a lot better than we usually do," Noblin said. "We were able to help each other out."

With the loss, Niwot fell to 4-18 (0-12 Granite Peaks League). The Cougars' regular season finale is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 18 at Erie High School.

Niwot seniors set to close their high school careers include Das, Buckbee, Demmel, Sebastian Stenz, and Taylor Rodanski.