Evergreen basketball: a team of veterans and a newbie coach.

A near perfect match through the first two months of the season.

With an 18-point win at D’Evelyn on Wednesday, the Cougars (11-3) matched their win total from last year’s playoff-less campaign (11-12). And there’s still nine games left on their regular-season slate.

The program’s quick turnaround comes under its new, young coach Shane Fox. A longtime assistant with Evergreen, he has the Cougars up to 15th in the latest Class 5A polls. The top 40 teams in 6A and 5A make the playoffs.

Before Fox came to Evergreen, he played at Doherty — graduating in 2014 — and later, at Metro State University.

In this week’s look-in on 6A-4A boys basketball, we’ll dive into a few teams like Evergreen that have snuck up on us through the first half of the season.

Class 6A

No. 15 Fairview (11-2): It beat Silver Creek 56-50 in overtime on Tuesday for its fifth straight win.

Through 13 games, the Knights have already gone to OT four times — and are now 2-2 in those games.

Their last loss came on Jan. 7 at 5A No. 13 Longmont, when they fell in extra time, 41-39.

Senior Spencer Brown leads the team with 16.5 PPG, followed by sophomore Trevor Ochs (12.7) and junior Toray Davis (10.4).

A year ago, Fairview finished 13-11 and lost in the first round of the playoffs.

No. 19 Loveland (12-3): The Red Wolves have their most wins in a season since 2014-15. That year, they finished 12-12.

One more win will put them past that. Maybe more importantly, though, it will officially end a streak of nine consecutive losing seasons.

Senior Zayne DeSouza (15.1 PPG and 9.3 RPG) has been a big part of their red-hot start.

At 6-6, 260 pounds, DeSouza is known more for his play on the football field. The star tight end signed with Deion Sanders and the University of Colorado last month.

Class 5A

No. 14 Sand Creek (11-2): Ending 2024 with losses to 6A No. 8 Valor Christian and 5A No. 17 Rampart, the Scorpions have won six straight since the start of the new year.

That’s promising, for sure. As is the fact that their recent string of wins has come despite the absence of starting point guard Joshua Kotto, who, per the Colorado Springs Gazette, is expected to return later in the season.

Senior Jaylen Brantley scored a career-high 18 points in a 62-55 win over 4A No. 9 The Classical Academy on Thursday.

No. 15 Evergreen (11-3): The Cougars have four players averaging double-digit points.

Among them, senior point guard Eli Beeson’s production has skyrocketed this winter. Averaging just 4.4 points per game a year ago, he’s averaging 12.3 PPG, 3.8 assists and 2.2 steals this winter.

They host No. 22 Golden on Friday.

Class 4A

No. 11 Jefferson Academy (9-2): The Jaguars haven’t had a winning season since 2019-20.

This year, they’ve been among the better teams in the classification.

Senior Josh Neely leads the team at 19.5 PPG. Junior Jimeto Orji, meanwhile, is averaging a double-double (19.3 PPG and 11.3 RPG).

The Jags’ two losses this winter are to No. 2 Kent Denver and No. 4 Lamar.

They host No. 14 Colorado Academy on Friday.

No. 16 Timnath (7-4): Max Roselle, a 6-foot-7 junior, is an exciting prospect on a rising program.

Averaging 16.5 PPG and 7.1 boards this winter, he’s shot better than 50% from the field in each of his last 10 games.

In a 55-32 win over Roosevelt Tuesday, he scored 19 points and had seven rebounds. His efficient outing saw him go 8-of-14 from the field and 2-of-4 from deep.