DENVER – The championship magic is back at Windsor.
“It feels great. Of course we all knew coming in we had that that 101-year drought,” said Windsor junior Madden Smiley after the Wizards were handed the Class 5A boys basketball state trophy Saturday night at the Denver Coliseum. “It is crazy how we all contributed and all got it done. I’m just so proud in this whole team.”
The No. 6-seed Windsor defeated No. 16 Green Mountain 60-49 in what was the final game to close out the Colorado prep basketball season.
The Wizards and Rams both came into Saturday’s title game looking to ended their championship droughts on the hardwood.
Windsor (22-6 record) had been state runner-up in its previous four title games — 1998, 2003, 2011 and 2024 — with the latest losing to Mesa Ridge in the 5A title game a year ago. The Wizards were back-to-back state champs over 100 years ago winning in 1923 and 1924.
“I don’t know if that kind of time can really sit and resonate with us,” Windsor coach Jon Rakiecki said. “It is just fun to win this one now in the present. After 101 years it shows you how difficult it is to win a state championship. We’ve had some really good teams come through this program.”
Smiley and senior John Backhaus led the way combining for 43 points for Windsor. Smiley (25 points) closed the deal with 16 points in the second half.
“Smiley is special and they have enough round him to stress you,” Green Mountain coach Mike Puccio said. “They were great tonight.”
Green Mountain’s last boys hoops title was in 1992. The only other boys basketball title for the school that just celebrated its 50th year was in 1980. The Rams were 5A state runner-up in 1994 and 1991.
Sophomore Sam Mielenz kept the Rams’ hopes for bringing a state basketball title back to Green Mountain (18-10 record). Mielenz had 16 points at halftime with Windsor holding a 32-26 lead.
Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Public Schools
“We made the mistake of letting one get hot,” Rakiecki said of Mielenz’s 16-point first half. “That is something we said at halftime to find him early and run his off the line. We did a good job in the second half against him.”
Mielenz finished with 20 points. Green Mountain’s leading scorer Simon Lunsford could never get going. Windsor held Lunsford to five points. He came in averaging over 18 points per game.
The Wizards shot the 3-ball well early with seven 3-pointer at halftime.
“We certainly have the ability to shot and make 3s,” Rakiecki said. “Those were good shots. The game is what determines the shots. Those were the shots we got tonight.”
Windsor finished 9-for-20 from long range. Green Mountain was 6-for-16 from beyond the arc with Mielenz a perfect 4-for-4.
“We knew coming into this game we had to shoot with confidence and shoot when we were open,” Smiley said. “We knew they were going to zone us a little bit.”
Windsor held its biggest lead of 37-26 with Smiley’s 3-point play the hard way with 6:32 left in the third quarter. However, Green Mountain went on a 9-0 run in the quarter to trim the Wizards’ lead to 42-38 going to the fourth quarter.
“There was of course some nerves knowing what was at stake,” Smiley said.
Smiley stepped up with a huge 3-pointer in the fourth quarter that extended Windsor’s lead to 47-40. It was the Wizards ninth and final 3-pointer of the game.
Windsor put the game out of reach with an 8-0 run in the final minutes for the school’s first boys basketball state title in 101 years.
“We knew we had to step on the gas and we all did a great job,” Smiley said of the Wizards closing out the game to bring the state title back to Windsor.
