LAKEWOOD — Not many better ways to finish your prep basketball career with a go-ahead 3-point play and then game-sealing dunk before the buzzer for good measure.

That was the case for Green Mountain senior Jake Swanson on Monday night at the Gold Crown Field House. Swanson’s 3-point play with under 90 seconds to play gave the Blue squad a 98-97 lead in the 9th annual Jeffco HS Senior Basketball Games presented by FirstBank and Gold Crown Foundation.

“It felt good. I hadn’t shot a basketball in a while,” Swanson said of the game-winning buckets that yielded a 100-97 come-from-behind victory over the White squad. “It is my last time playing high school basketball, so it’s good to end on a high night.”

Green Mountain’s season ended with a loss in the Sweet 16 of the 5A state tournament on March 3 at Severance. The Rams had a successful 19-6 record coming off the appearance in the 5A state championship game a year ago.

“It’s was a brotherhood was the biggest. Staying together,” Swanson said of the Rams’ last two seasons. “Playing for each other more than playing for ourselves was the biggest thing to get us on that road. I wouldn’t ask for a better team this year.”

The Blue squad needed all its talent to grab the win. The White team held a double-digit lead in the first quarter and an 81-73 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

However, Ralston Valley coach Chris Braketa wouldn’t allow his Blue team to pack it in during the final quarter.

Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Public Schools

“Coach Braketa being the competitive guy he is was watching the score,” Ralston Valley senior Zeke Andrews said. “We knew it would be competitive at the end.”

Andrews was named the Blue squad MVP with a game-high 19 points. The two-sport athlete who has signed to play quarterback at the University of Northern Colorado showed off his athletic ability at both end of the court.

“It’s was fun to get out here and mess around a little bit,” Andrews said of going up against some of his Arvada West rivals, which included Noah Meurer who will likely be a receiver for Andrews at UNC next season. “It was a good time.”

A 3-pointer by Meurer in the closing seconds was just off the mark before Swanson was able to sprint down the court for the final dunk of the game.

Ralston Valley won its third straight Jeffco League title and advanced to the 6A state championship game against Rock Canyon just a few days ago at the Denver Coliseum. The Mustangs just came up short on winning their first boys basketball state championship since 2003.

Rock Canyon defeated Ralston Valley 68-58, but less than 48 hours later … Coach Braketa, along with three of his senior Mustangs — Andrews, Caiden Braketa and Frank Psaute — walked off the court at the Gold Crown Field House as winners.

Columbine senior Cash Boykin picked up the MVP title for the White squad. Boykin — who set a school record with 48 points against Fruita Monument back on Jan. 3 — had 19 points for the White team. Boykin finished his career just shy of 1,500-career points.

Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Public Schools