Basketball Recap: Columbine Comes Up Short

After some red-hot attacks on offense in their last seven matchups, Columbine finally came back down to earth on Thursday. They were dealt a 73-30 loss at the hands of the Ralston Valley Mustangs. The Rebels have struggled against the Mustangs recently, as the game was their seventh consecutive lost matchup.

Despite the defeat, Columbine saw an underclassman step up: freshman Jeremiah Shortis posted nine points and eight rebounds. Shortis is also on a roll when it comes to shooting accuracy, as he's posted one of at least 50% in the last seven games he's played. Seth Hickman was another key player, putting up seven points.

Rebels

Offensive Rebounds

02/13/25 @ Ralston Valley	11
02/08/25 vs Valor Christian	8
02/06/25 @ Bear Creek	10
02/01/25 vs Chatfield	7
01/27/25 @ Golden	10
+ 11 more games

Even though they lost, Columbine smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 11 offensive rebounds. That's the most offensive boards they've posted since back in February of 2024.

Ralston Valley was led to victory by Tanner Braketa and Samson Wright. Braketa went 8-for-13 to rack up 18 points and six assists, while Wright went 9-for-11 on his way to 18 points and eight boards. Those 18 points gave Wright a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Caiden Braketa, who scored ten points and seven rebounds.

Columbine's loss dropped their record down to 11-10. As for Ralston Valley, they pushed their record up to 20-1 with the victory, which was their 11th straight at home dating back to last season.

Looking ahead, Columbine will welcome Lakewood at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday. As for Ralston Valley, they will venture away from home to challenge Mountain Vista at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday.