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Colbert’s Prep Playbook: Remember that Michael Glen kid from BHS?

The Aspen High School boys basketball team hosts Rifle earlier this season inside the AHS gymnasium.
Edward Sanders/courtesy photo

The high school basketball season here in the Roaring Fork Valley is, well, in development. In all fairness to the Roaring Fork girls, who are a solid 7-4 overall, it’s been a rough go for area teams.

So, before we hop into this week’s slate of games, I wanted to point out some good basketball news. Remember that Michael Glen kid, who graduated from Basalt a few years ago? Remember when he led the Longhorns to the state quarterfinals his senior year in 2017 and finished his career with 1,390 points, 694 rebounds and 169 blocked shots?

Do you remember when Glen signed with the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, an NCAA Division II school playing out of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference? Remember how he was named the RMAC freshman of the year?



Well, he’s having a pretty solid sophomore season, as well. The Orediggers limped out to a 1-3 start this winter, but have won 11 straight to reach 12-3 overall. They are a perfect 9-0 in RMAC play and have a two-game lead in the conference.

Glen, who is listed as a 6-foot-7, 200-pound forward, has started all 15 games for the Mines. He started 30 of 31 games as a freshman. As a sophomore, he is averaging 10.4 points per game, which is fifth-best on the team. He leads the Orediggers with 6.5 rebounds per game and is tied for second on the team with 18 blocked shots.




If you find yourself on the Front Range soon, might be worth checking him out in person. The Orediggers next play Friday at home against the South Dakota Mines. They also host Black Hills State on Saturday. The postseason gets rolling in early March.

His younger sister, Taylor Glen, is a junior at Basalt and a pretty solid basketball player herself. Although, soccer might be her best sport.

WHAT’S ON DECK

Both Aspen and Basalt teams are back in action Tuesday. BHS heads to Vail Christian, with both boys and girls teams really needing a win. AHS will be at Vail Mountain. The Aspen boys (3-6 overall) have to be feeling a little better after routing Cedaredge 57-40 on Friday in what has to be their best win of the season. Maybe they have turned a corner?

Both Aspen teams will then host Gunnison on Friday night. Basalt hosts Gunnison on Saturday.

The other home game this week involves Aspen hockey. The Skiers will host Resurrection Christian on Saturday night at the Aspen Ice Garden. That game now is at 6 p.m. It will be the final home game of the regular season for AHS, as its final six are on the road.

The AHS girls swim team will host Summit in a meet on Friday afternoon. The swim season is fast approaching its conclusion with conference and state championships coming up in early February.

Aspen hockey, currently 5-4-2 overall, is coming off a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to a ranked Fort Collins team. AHS does lead the Peak Conference by a couple of points over Crested Butte, however. Those teams will play each other on back-to-back days (Feb. 8-9) in Gunnison.

If you want some more local action this week, you can always check out the Wilder Dwight Classic speed races (skiing) at Aspen Highlands beginning Friday, or there is the Aspen Ice Spectacular on Saturday (2 and 5 p.m. shows) at Lewis Ice Arena, featuring a few Olympic figure skaters, including Aspen’s own Jeremy Abbott.

acolbert@aspentimes.com