Aspen is 8-2 against Basalt since December of 2018, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Wednesday. The Aspen Skiers will look to defend their home court against the Basalt Longhorns at 7:00 p.m. Basalt took a loss in their last game and will be looking to turn the tables on Aspen, who comes in off a win.
Last Saturday, Aspen didn't have too much trouble with Rifle on the road as they won 57-41. Given Aspen's advantage in MaxPreps' Colorado basketball rankings (they are ranked 54th, while Rifle is ranked 249th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
It was another big night for Tommy Franceschi, who scored 25 points. As a matter of fact, that's the most points he has scored all season. The team also got some help courtesy of Kristo Klavins, who scored 12 points.
Meanwhile, Basalt's recent rough patch got a bit rougher on Saturday after their third straight loss. They fell 53-46 to Coal Ridge.
Basalt might have lost, but man, Luke Williams was a machine: he dropped a double-double on 20 points and ten rebounds. It was the first time this season that Williams scored 15 or more points. Wyatt Loomis was another key contributor, scoring six points along with five assists.
The victory made it two in a row for Aspen and bumps their season record up to 17-4. As for Basalt, they have been struggling recently as they've lost five of their last six games, which put a noticeable dent in their 9-12 record this season.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Aspen have been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 26 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Basalt struggles in that department as they've been averaging 24.8 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Everything came up roses for Aspen against Basalt in their previous meeting back in January as the team secured a 51-23 victory. Will Aspen repeat their success, or does Basalt have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
