LITTLETON — To an outsider of high school athletics in South Jeffco the boys basketball match-up Friday night for Chatfield might have looked like a trap game.
The Chargers (7-0 record) has all the momentum facing Dakota Ridge (1-9). However, the packed Chatfield Senior High School gym proved how important the rivalry game is between the two South Jeffco-area schools that are separated by just 2.4 miles.
“I have so much respect for Dakota and Sean,” said Chatfield coach Nathan Jerome, who was on Dakota Ridge coach Sean Kovar’s staff before taking over the Chargers’ hoops program a few years ago. “It is a rivalry game and always going to be close. This game was about making sure we could keep our guys focused on one game at a time.”
Chatfield has plenty of reasons to get the better of the Eagles. Dakota Ridge came with in a 5-game winning streak in the cross-town rivalry. Chatfield’s last win over Dakota Ridge in boys hoops was nearly five years ago on Feb. 1, 2021 during the shortened COVID season.
Chatfield ended the losing streak in impressive fashion Friday night. The Chargers remained undefeated with a 73-43 victory.
“I feel like we were a little nervous coming into it,” Chatfield junior Brody Logan admitted. “As the game went on I think we took care of business.”
Dakota Ridge senior Caiden Dixon gave the Chargers reason to be on edge early on. Dixon had four 3-pointers during a span of five minutes in the first quarter.
“Caiden is amazing,” Jerome said of the game’s leading scorer with 19 points. “He is so much fun to watch. I was able to coach him a few years ago. That was really cool he got those 3-pointers early on us. He is nasty.”
Chatfield was able to cool off Dixon holding him scoreless in the second quarter. The Chargers took a 31-22 lead at halftime.
Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Public Schools
Chatfield extended its lead to 48-29 after three quarters. Sophomore Nolan Feddersen put an exclamation point on the win with a slam in the final seconds to give the Chargers the 30-point victory.
Feddersen (18 points), along with senior Taylor Stange (13 points) and Logan (13 points) led the way for the Chargers.
“Brody is the type of player that every coach wants to coach,” Jerome said of his junior guard. “He loves defense. He does the right things. He does everything that you ask guys to do and he is doing it already before you can ask him.”
Jerome used his bench which allowed the Chargers to finish with 10 players finding the scoring column. Using Chatfield’s depth was important with the Chargers scheduled to face Legend (6-4) at 2 p.m. Saturday, just 17 hours after the win over Dakota Ridge.
“Legend is good and we are going to have our hands full tomorrow,” Jerome said of the non-league road game in Parker. “But having only two games played in the last three and a half weeks it is really fun for these guys to go out and compete. It’s what they want to do.”
Chatfield is about to begin its 12-game 6A Jeffco League schedule. The Chargers open conference play Monday, Jan. 12, at Valor Christian (5-5). The Eagles won’t be in much of a good mood Monday since Valor is currently enduring a 4-game losing streak.
The Chargers’ home league opener will be against Ralston Valley (9-0) on Wednesday, Jan. 14. The Mustangs hammered Smoky Hill 80-36 on Friday night.
“We just want to compete,” Jerome said of the upcoming 6A Jeffco League play. “Who knows that is going to happen. We just want to compete at a high level as much as we can.”
Arvada West (10-0), along with Chatfield and Ralston Valley are currently undefeated and all in the top-8 of the 6A boys basketball CHSAA Selection & Seeding Index.
“I’m very excited,” Logan said of the start of conference play. “I think we’ll prepare well and see how it goes.”
Dakota Ridge has non-league games against Denver East and Rocky Mountain. The Eagles could quickly turn around their season once they start 5A/4A Jeffco League play Jan. 21 at home against Green Mountain.
Kovar has guided the Eagles to three straight conference titles.
Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Public Schools
