Basalt basketball leaves Aspen with pair of victories
It wasn’t the dish the Aspen High School boys basketball team wanted, but it’s the dish coach Alex Schrempf feels it may have needed.
“It was a humbling experience, served to us on a silver platter by a very, very good program,” the first-year coach said. “This has the potential to have the most transformative experience of our season so far. I remember the blowouts when I was on the losing end way more clearly than any of the big wins.”
Facing Class 3A No. 10 Basalt on Thursday inside the AHS gymnasium, the Skiers fell to 4-4 overall in a 72-33 non-league loss to the Longhorns. The defeat was highlighted by a 17-0 start to the game for Basalt, Aspen failing to match BHS’s intensity in the early going.
“Defensively we are really trying to get after it,” Basalt coach Danny Martinez said. “Aspen has always been tough. They are young, but they are going to get better. It’s learning. It feels nice to get a lead up early.”
Down 21-4 after a quarter and 36-12 at halftime, Aspen came out with extra intensity in the second half but failed to maintain that momentum. The fourth quarter turned into a dunk contest featuring BHS senior big man Michael Glen, who led the team with 24 points.
“I’ll start dancing if I have to. I don’t want to, because you don’t want to see that,” Schrempf said of a way to get his players more energy earlier in games. “We are trying to give them everything they need mentally, but if we can’t get them to bring that energy from the jump, then we are not doing our job effectively.”
The two teams will meet again in a league game on Feb. 17 in Basalt.
Next up for Aspen is a trip to Middle Park on Saturday. Basalt, now 8-1 overall and winners of eight straight, is off until hosting Delta on Jan. 21.
Basalt girls hold on in low-scoring game
There was no flow and play was often sloppy, but Basalt High School girls basketball coach Kat Fitzpatrick was glad to leave Aspen Thursday with a 23-18 win over the Skiers.
“If we miss almost all of our layups and we still win, that’s pretty good,” Fitzpatrick said. “Even if it’s not our best game and we still get a win, that’s good. So I’m happy.”
BHS led 11-10 at halftime and 19-12 after three quarters. A basket by Aspen’s Ella Trane midway through the fourth quarter made it a three-point game, but a dagger of a 3-point shot by Basalt’s Kate Schrock soon after put it away.
Basalt improved to 2-8 overall with the win, while Aspen fell to 0-8.
BHS wrestling tops Huskies
Thursday, the Basalt wrestling team beat host Battle Mountain, 54-12. The Longhorns pulled out four wins on the mat to go with a handful of forfeits. Wins came from Daniel Barnes (138 pounds, 7-5 dec.), Ryan Borchelt (145, fall 1:21), Julius Vazquez (152, fall 3:26) and Ernesto Lopez (220, 7-5 dec.). BHS next competes Tuesday at a triangular hosted by Eagle Valley.
AHS Alpine team records pair of seconds
The Aspen High Alpine ski team competed Thursday at Beaver Creek. The Skiers had four girls in the top 10, led by a runner-up finish from Elle Murphy. Pascale Augspurger was fourth, India Cardamone eighth and Elli Gorsuch ninth.
The AHS boys had two in the top 10: Trey Thorpe took second and Alex Ilic ninth. The Skiers next compete Jan. 20 at Ski Cooper.
