The Falcons are on a roll.
With three wins to start its Continental League schedule,
Highlands Ranch boys basketball was nursing an 8-game win streak
after a 73-20 dismantling of Heritage Jan. 21 at home in Highlands
Ranch.
With the win, the Falcons advanced to a 14-1 overall record.
Last season, Ranch not only qualified for the Class 5A state
championship playoffs, the team earned a spot in the Round of 8
before being sent home for the season.
Bob Caton returns as the Falcons coach after helping the program
become one of the toughest in the Continental League.
One reason the Falcons are having such a stronger successful
season so far is the amount of heavy contributors it has on the
floor. Four players have already scored in triple digits and two
are presently averaging about 17 points per game or better.
Brett Olson and Marcus Byrd, both seniors, returned to the team
this season and have become its top scorers thusfar. Olson had more
than 280 points on the book after the game against Heritage and
averaged almost 19 points per game. Byrd scored better than 265 and
averaged almost 18 per game.
Seniors Andrew Bucholtz and Eric Anttila are also scored in
triple digits, each bettering 120 and eight points per game.
Byrd also leads the team in rebounding with more than 45. Olson
leads in assists on the plus side of 25.
On defense, Olson, Byrd and Bucholtz are also the steal kings
for the Falcons. Together they have almost 25 on the season. Byrd
leads the team in blocked shots, and junior Austin Haldorson had
been knocking them down plenty as well.
In the Falcons first three wins of the Continental season, Ranch
scored no less than 73 points, including a 75-24 win over Littleton
Jan. 14 in Littleton and an 85-33 win over Castle View Jan. 18 in
Castle Rock.
Against the Lions, Olson and Byrd scored 16 points each. Anttila
scored 12 including three buckets from beyond the three-point mark.
Bucholtz finished with 10 points.
In the Castle View game, Olson put 23 up on the scoreboard
having dropped four outside hoops. Byrd scored 16 points, and
Anthony Gosz had 10 points.
Against Heritage, Steve Donatell scored 13 points for the
Falcons. Anttila and Brett Brady each scored 11.
