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Boys basketball: Rifle spoils Aspen opener

Dale Strode
The Aspen Times

CARBONDALE — The Rifle Bears, with a potent outside-inside combination, spoiled the season opener for the Aspen High School boys basketball team Friday afternoon.

The Bears, led by Avery Lujan’s game-high 21 points, turned back Aspen 61-29 in the first round of the annual Brenda Patch Tournament at Roaring Fork High School.

The Skiers started fast behind a pair of 3-pointers from senior Jack Rosenthal in the first quarter as the Aspen boys trailed only 12-10 to start the second quarter.



But Rifle opened the second period with a 10-0 run, keyed by Jacob Boone and Morgan Robinson.

When Lujan hit a half-court 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer, the Bears pushed their lead to 29-15.




The Aspen boys were limited to five points in the second quarter.

Lujan hit three more 3-pointers in the second half to finish with five as the Bears outscored the Skiers 33-14 in the final two quarters.

Aspen’s Tristan Niskanen hit a couple of free throws and Rosenthal converted a follow shot as the Skiers attempted to scramble back into the game.

Junior Quinton O’Keeffe slashed to the back for a layup and then hit the free throw for a conventional three-point play for the Skiers late in the third quarter.

AJ Detrick and Niskanen added baskets for Aspen in the fourth quarter.

But the hot-shooting Bears outscored the Skiers 19-7 for the final 61-29 margin.

Rosenthal led Aspen with 11 points, including two 3-pointers.

Niskanen added six points and nine rebounds for Aspen.

Detrick finished with five points and six rebounds.

James Kistner added four points; O’Keeffe added three points and five rebounds for the Skiers (0-1).

Lujan’s 21 paced Rifle with Boone adding 18 points.

Luis Carreon scored seven points for the Bears (1-0).

The Aspen boys will try to get into the win column Saturday when they play Eagle Valley in the tournament at Roaring Fork High School. Game time is 3:30 p.m.

dstrode@aspentimes.com