Winners of a Class 4A-most 12 straight, the boys basketball program at Fort Lupton is inching closer to a spot in the classification’s top 10.
The Bluedevils (12-2) found their groove following an 0-2 start to the season and haven’t lost since Dec. 2. They’re currently ranked 13th in the most recent CHSAA coaches poll.
Freshman Shane Callahan is doing a bit of this and that, averaging 17.2 points, 3.5 boards, 3.4 assists and three steals. Better yet, he is shooting 53% from the field and 40% from 3-point range.
In a 59-54 win over Jefferson Academy last week, Callahan went 4 for 5 from deep and scored 19. He has scored 32, 27, and 24 points this month alone.
Fort Lupton is at KIPP Denver Collegiate Thursday.
In this week’s look at the big classifications in boys basketball, we take a look at the longest undefeated streaks.
Class 4A
No. 2 Kent Denver: Senior Jay Royal has been a product of consistency for the Sun Devils (13-2), who have now won 11 straight.
Royal is averaging 18.8 points and 6.1 rebounds this winter. It’s his third straight season with more than 17 points and 5 ½ assists in a season.
Leading a team averaging 82.7 PPG, Royal had 24 points and 12 rebounds in a 69-54 win over Jefferson Academy on Jan. 16. He followed it up with 30 and 9 in an 82-73 overtime victory over Prospect Ridge Academy three days later.
Then Saturday, the Sun Devils beat The Academy 89-46, their 10th game scoring 80 or more this season.
They are home against No. 11 DSST: Green Valley Ranch Thursday.
Class 5A
No. 1 Mesa Ridge: The Grizzlies (15-0) are one of two undefeated teams left in the classification.
Seven of their wins have come by more than 25 points. Among them, they beat Sand Creek 78-52 Saturday. In it, Bryce and Tevin Riehl each had 15 points along with seven and six boards, respectively.
Senior Carver Cheeks, meanwhile, has been a steady presence in the post. He leads the teams at 7.2 rebounds and is shooting 56% while scoring 8.2 PPG.
Mesa Ridge is home against Canon City Wednesday and Palmer Ridge Saturday.
No. 3 Frederick: Senior Luke Justice is on a tear, scoring 22 or more points and better than 40% from the field in his last five games for the Golden Eagles (14-0).
Justice is among the player of the year candidates in the class, averaging 22.6 PPG on 48% shooting. In a 77-58 win over Skyline last week, he shot 63% from the field and 6 of 11 from deep for 31 points.
The Golden Eagles are outscoring teams by 24.1 PPG.
They’re at Mountain View Tuesday and home against Fort Morgan Thursday.
Class 6A
No. 2 Rock Canyon: Mac Terry scored 15 points on 70% shooting and hit a game-winning buzzer-beater as the Jaguars (15-1) beat No. 7 Regis Jesuit 59-57 Friday to extend their 6A-best streak to 13 games.
Aidan Peck led the way with 18 points, going 4 of 7 from deep.
Rock Canyon is now 3-1 in games decided by three of fewer points this winter. Its lone loss of the year came to No. 4 Mountain Vista Dec. 3, 52-51.
The Jaguars are home against Legend before hosting No. 9 ThunderRidge Friday. The latter will include two of the best prospects in the state in Rock Canyon’s Gavin Hershberger (13.8 PPG, 4.7 assists) and TR’s Andrew Crawford (20.5 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 6.7 APG).
No. 5 Denver East: Angels coach Rudy Carey became the state’s winningest boys basketball coach Dec. 13, tallying victory No. 877 in a 96-61 win over Palmer.
The number has only grown from there.
Denver East has won six straight since, extending its streak to 12 games. Senior D’Aundre Samuels is averaging 21.5 PPG, sixth in the class, 5.6 assists (eighth) and 4.9 steals (third).
In a 69-52 win over rival Denver South Saturday, Samuels and Jack Greenwood each scored 16 and Gil Gonzalez added 14. The Angels shot 53% and 44% from deep.
They’re at Westminster Tuesday, then are on the road at Thomas Jefferson Thursday.
