After starting out the season with an exceptional 6-1 record, Legend boys’ basketball has lost three out of their last four contests. However, during this rough nonleague stretch for head coach Kevin Boley and his team, the Titans haven’t been back at the Coliseum since Dec. 21 where they are a perfect 3-0.
Legend’s four game absence from Parker has landed them everywhere from Colorado Springs and Denver during the Cherry Creek Holiday Tournament where they finished second for the third straight season with a 59-63 loss to Cherry Creek; to Littleton where they dropped a game to Dakota Ridge 42-54; back to the Springs where they crushed Palmer 76-56; and then to the western slope where they fell at the hands of the Grand Junction Tigers 54-62.
Heading into the second half of the season, the Titans can certainly pride themselves on being balanced in every part of the game and placing an emphasis on team play; an idea that Boley has preached throughout the course of the season. As a team, they rank in the top five of the Continental League in almost every statistical category.
Seniors Zach Mihalicz and Elijah Cherrington have been leading the team effort this season as they average a combined 27.2 points per game on the offensive end. On the other side of the ball, both average one steal per game and just under eight combined defensive boards.
While the senior leadership has been critical to the boys’ success, sophomore Monroe Porter has been stuffing box scores all season long. In just his first year at the varsity level, the 6-foot-2 guard is fourth on the team in scoring with 9.1 points per game, second on the team (behind only 6-foot-8 Zach Mihalicz) with 5.3 rebounds per game, and leading the team in steals and assists with two pilfers and 3.7 dimes per game. Although he’s usually identified as an outside shooter, Porter has proven to be much more versatile.
For Legend’s next matchup, they will finally be back in a “whited-out” Coliseum as they take on Rangeview High School (9-2) who is coming in off of a monster 72-49 victory over George Washington on Friday.