Green Mountain boys basketball winning streak reaches double-digits

DENVER — Green Mountain boys basketball team had no issues staying laser focused Friday night at D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School.

“It is always a rivalry and I love the (D’Evelyn) student section that likes to talk smack,” Green Mountain junior Sam Mielenz said. “I love the energy and I love how loud this small gym is. I just love it.”

Green Mountain’s own student section that clearly outnumbered D’Evelyn’s were sent home happy with the Rams putting on a dominating performance. Green Mountain won 63-36 in push the Rams’ winning streak to 10 games.

“It is all the credit to the guys. They are fully bought in right now,” Green Mountain coach Jordan Deignan said of the 10-game winning streak. “It’s a really experienced group that knows what they need to do to win. All the credit goes to them.”

Mielenz led the way with a game-high 23 points, which included five 3-pointers. Green Mountain twins — Ben and Jake Swanson — pitched in to combine for 19 points. Senior guard Tre Gutierrez had 10 points, 7 assists, 3 steals and was the spearhead that led the aggressive defense for the Rams.

“We came in here with that rivalry mentality,” Deignan said. “I thought how we came out defensively really showed that. We came out with a different energy defensively.”

Green Mountain (16-4, 6-0 in Class 5A/4A Jeffco) took a 20-9 lead after the first quarter that included a 12-0 run. The lead was extended to 35-14 at halftime thanks to a 12-0 run by the Rams.

“We are focused. Our defense was amazing tonight,” Mielenz said holding D’Evelyn to a season-low 36 points. “We just have a lot of energy”

D’Evelyn (8-11, 2-4) couldn’t match the Rams energy and couldn’t keep Green Mountain senior Corbin Wade from seemingly grab every rebound in sight. Wade had 17 rebounds by the time Deignan put all of his starters on the bench with 4 minutes to play and the Rams with a 30-plus point lead.

“You can’t teach will,” Deignan said after Wade’s career-high rebounding performance. “He is one of the most impressive players from a defensive rebounding standpoint. He reminds me a lot of George Soppe (2024 GMHS graduate) from a couple of years ago. They just have the will to get a rebound. He (Wade) was impressive tonight.”

D’Evelyn was led by junior Ben Goman, who had a team-high 7 points. It was the Jaguars’ third straight loss, but Deignan didn’t take D’Evelyn lightly.

“It was a few years ago (2021-22 season) that D’Evelyn won the league title,” Deignan said. “They are a great program and coach (Greg Scheckenbach) is doing an unbelievable job.”

D’Evelyn had just one win a season ago, but has turned it around and could reach double-digit wins and qualify for the 4A state tournament.

The Jaguars have a 3-game road trip to finish off its conference schedule. The Jaguars are at Wheat Ridge (Feb. 10) and Standley Lake (Feb. 12) next week before closing out league play at Pomona (Wednesday, Feb. 18).

In turn, Green Mountain has a 3-game homestand to close out its regular season. The Rams host Conifer (Feb. 10) and Golden (Feb. 12) next week before the huge showdown in a varsity girls/boys doubleheader against Standley Lake on Monday, Feb. 16.

Green Mountain and Standley Lake (12-6, 5-0) are still both undefeated in conference play, with Golden (16-4, 5-1) one game back.

“It is hard to not look ahead,” Mielenz said of the showdown against Standley Lake that will likely determine the league title. “That last game is going to be tough and we’ll be ready for it. I’m excited for what is yet to come.”

Deignan is counting on the student support to continue as the Rams attempt to win their first league title since 2007-08 season.

“We are just focused on Conifer right now,” Deignan said of the stretch of three home games to close the regular season. “Our crowd has been unbelievable this year. The support that this student body has shown for this group of guys is impressive and I think our guys have earned that. It’s just cool to see what we have going on here.”