The boys basketball team fought a tough battle Saturday, March 4 against the Roaring Fork Rams. The Mustangs beat Montezuma-Cortez Friday night, 57-39, while the Rams beat Manual 73-64. The Mustangs led the Rams heading into the second half 29-19, and held a decent lead until the tail end of the fourth quarter, where the Rams scored 23 points in an effort to win the game. Seniors Lucas Rodholm, Davyn Adamscheck, and Conrad Olsen helped the Mustangs keep ahead by scoring 12 points each, Jared Keul (12) and Cole Sienknecht (11) right behind with nine each.

The referees aided in making it a difficult game for the Mustangs, calling fouls every 2 minutes it seemed, and calling one with less than a minute left that could’ve given the Rams the game. Rodholm and Keul raised there arms as the Roaring Forks player stood at the free-throw line, encouraging the crowd to get loud. Their request was followed, the Manitou crowd yelling, stomping and clapping – more noise than there had been all season.

When the buzzer rang, announcing the end of the game, the boys jumped up and hugged each other in excitement (and relief). The boys took home a hard fought, stressful, win, securing a spot in the Great 8.

The boys will travel to the University of Denver this Thursday, March 9, to play Sterling at 5:30pm in order to advance to the Final Four on Friday.