There is little doubt that Patrick Phelan is going to draw a lot of attention from opposing defenses, no matter who the Rangely boys basketball team is playing. The reason: the 5-foot-10 point guard is averaging 28.3 points a game, leading Colorado in scoring, regardless of classification.
Phelan is a four-year starter, and for the past three seasons has averaged more than 20 points a game for the Panthers. His production is needed, as Rangely (7-6) has only one player taller than 6-foot – Kindal Cushman at 6-1.
"I don’t think we are winning like I think we should, but we do lack the height," said Phelan, who averaged 7.0 points a game as a freshman. "I do feel some of the pressure and I’ve had a lot of various defenses against me. We’re small, and when we get the rebounds we can push the ball up the court. We’re just outsized, seeing teams with guys over 6-3, 6-5 against us."
Phelan’s top game this season was 37 points in a 61-57 victory against Altamont, Utah. He is shooting 55 percent on 2-pointers and 42 percent from 3-point range and has tallied 30 points or more seven times this season.
Coach Mark Skelton, who has been at Rangely for 26 years, is back at the helm after taking the past two seasons off, and he is glad to have Phelan.
"Patrick is an important cog in our team," Skelton said. "We only have a total of 14 boys out this season. He is having such a fine season and has scored 40 to 60 percent of our points in our games. We have to rely on him to do a lot of things. When teams shut him down, and for the most part they don’t, they will beat us."
Rangely is averaging 59.8 points a game. The No. 2 scorer for the Panthers is Adam Dahl, who is scoring nine points a game. Cushman, who has only played in six games, follows with 6.4.
"Cushman is one of the top wrestlers at his weight and we like to have him when he can come over," Skelton said. "One thing hurting us is rebounding because of our lack of height. Ethan Peacock, who is only 5-10, is our leading rebounder with 4.5 a game. Yes, lack of rebounding has killed us. The guys work hard, but we just can’t get up all the time against the big guys. The kids play with a lot of heart and I‘m proud of the way they don‘t give in to anyone."
Phelan said he gets a lot of support from his dad, Dennis, who played junior college ball in Kansas. He would also like to play college ball.
"Rangely JC said they would like to have me and I’ve also heard from Mesa (State) in Grand Junction," said Phelan, who would like to major in either geology or sports medicine. "But I haven’t drawn a lot of attention. Being 5-10 and from a small school, it is hard for a lot of colleges to look at me."
"Here is a young man who knows how to handle and distribute the ball," Skelton said. "He knows well how to play under pressure and can shoot it, that’s for sure. He would be a fine player for anyone who picks him up."
Rangely, by the way, is ranked No. 8 in the state in 2A wrestling and Cushman is ranked No. 4 at 285 pounds. The Panthers have finished seventh in the state the past two seasons.
Weld Central boys roll
The Weld Central boys, ranked No. 10 in 3A, escaped with a thrilling 54-50 victory in overtime against Eaton. The Rebels’ Lupe Montes hit a 3-pointer only two seconds left to tie it at 39-39 and send the game into the overtime. Yet, Weld Central almost pulled it out in regulation.
Eaton called time out after the Montes basket. A desperation shot by the Reds was blocked by Weld Central's J.J. Sisneros. Sisneros, who is averaging 22.5 points a game, picked up the ball and hit a 50-footer, but officials ruled the buzzer had sounded before he had released the ball. Freshman Cody Bowen scored six points for Weld Central in the overtime as the Rebels improved to 10-2 on the season.
Olathe girls in control on Western Slope
The Olathe girls basketball team, coached by Paul Althaus, who is in his seventh season, certainly deserves a closer look. The Pirates are 12-0 overall and 9-0 in the Class 3A Western Slope League and ranked No. 5 by MaxPreps. They have had a few close calls, especially last week when they edged Cedaredge 37-35 and Coal Ridge 44-43.
Leading the way for Olathe are juniors Emily Brummitt, who is averaging 13.3 points and 5.8 rebounds a game, and Morgan Stansberry (10.3, 5.0). The team’s lone senior, Bretta Prosser, is scoring 3.2 points a game. Sophomores Kylie Tate and Tawni Middleton round out the starting five, and their play has been a plus. Middleton is scoring 10.3 points per game, Tate 9.7.
Tip-ins: The Merino girls remained No. 1 in Class 2A despite their 39-37 loss last week to Burns, Wyo. The Rams, led by Danielle Renaldo (15 points a game) and Carle Walser (12.1), are 10-1 on the season. There are no remaining unbeaten girls teams in the 2A ranks. ... Make-up games will be in abundance in southwest Colorado the next few weeks after last weekend’s snowstorms dumped more than a foot of snow. A dozen or so boys and girls games were postponed because of the conditions.
