Columbine Boys Hoops Defeats Valor In Last-Second Defense

LITTLETON, CO — By Dennis Pleuss for CHSAANow.com/Jeffco Columbine junior Luke O’Brien carried the Rebels offensively, but it was the defensive help by Justin Lohrenz that sealed the boys basketball victory Saturday night.

Valor Christian had the ball with 14.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter with Columbine leading 51-50. Valor junior Cole Bott beat O’Brien off the drill on a drive in the lane, but Lohrenz came off his man to provide some help-side defense. Bott lost control of the ball with the Rebels’ defensive end on the football field sliding over and O’Brien providing pressure from behind.

“He (Bott) had made tough shots all game. I’m just glad he didn’t make that last one,” Lohrenz said after the Rebels held on to a 1-point victory in the Class 5A Jeffco League home opener for Columbine (10-5, 1-0 in 5A Jeffco). “I just had to make sure my hands were straight up and in was in good position. I didn’t want to foul him.”

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Images: 1) Columbine senior Cameron Dean (22) swings the ball out of the reach of Valor freshman Micah Leslie (24) during the Class 5A Jeffco League opener Saturday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics). 2) Columbine junior Luke O'Brien (0) and Valor junior Cole Bott (12) combined for 41 points during Saturday night's 5A Jeffco League game. The Rebels held on for a 51-50 victory. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics). 3) Columbine senior Logan DeArment (10) gets off a shot before Valor junior Cole Bott (12) get block the shot during the first half Saturday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics).