Highlands Ranch hasn't had much luck against ThunderRidge recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Highlands Ranch Falcons will take on the ThunderRidge Grizzlies at 7:00 p.m. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty point totals in their previous games.
Highlands Ranch took a loss when they played away from home on Friday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Tuesday. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 68-65 win over Legend. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Falcons have posted since December 7, 2024.
Luke Bakken
| 02/18/25 vs Legend | 80% |
| 02/14/25 @ Rock Canyon | 29% |
| 02/11/25 vs Fort Collins | 17% |
| 02/07/25 @ Regis Jesuit | 67% |
| 02/04/25 @ Heritage | 58% |
| + 16 more games |
Highlands Ranch's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Luke Bakken led the charge by going 8-for-10 to rack up 18 points. What's more, Bakken also posted a 80% field goal percentage, which is the highest he's achieved since back in December of 2024. Mason Lane was another key player, going 6-for-13 en route to 14 points and seven boards.
Meanwhile, ThunderRidge entered their tilt with Douglas County on Tuesday with six consecutive wins , and they'll enter their next game with seven. They simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat the Huskies 77-46. The contest was all but wrapped up at the end of the third, by which point the Grizzlies had established a 20 point advantage.
Highlands Ranch better keep an eye on Drew Paine. He was instrumental in ThunderRidge's win, dropping a double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds. Paine is also on a roll when it comes to shooting accuracy, as he's posted one of at least 50% in the last 12 games he's played. Another player making a difference was Sean Morton, who posted 12 points and four steals.
ThunderRidge was working as a unit and finished the game with 22 assists. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Douglas County only racked up five assists.
ThunderRidge's win was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 17-5. The wins came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 72.3 points over those games. As for Highlands Ranch, their record now sits at 10-12.
Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Highlands Ranch has been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 28.5 boards per game. However, it's not like ThunderRidge struggles in that department as they've been averaging 31.4 rebounds. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.
Highlands Ranch might still be hurting after the 88-64 defeat they got from ThunderRidge when the teams last played back in January of 2024. Can Highlands Ranch avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
