#8 RALSTON VALLEY 70
ABRAHAM LINCOLN 40
(1/5/09)

BY MARTY CESARIO

In the previous two seasons, these two squads built an exciting new rivalry-- the kind that grows with success and competition. This pair of perennial twenty-win teams were now going to run for the fifth time in just over two years. Two-time 4A defending champion, Lincoln, had beaten Ralston Valley in 3 of 4 including wins in last season's semifinals and in the title game the previous year.

The times have changed, though. Big-Time. Well... for one team. While the other merely got better.

On the Monday after holiday break, Ralston Valley showcased their experience, toughness, and versatility right at the jump and diligently held control of this game through the final buzzer. The Mustangs led 23-10 after one quarter. Then increased the spread to 22 points with a 40-18 lead at half. It wasn't exactly easy. Though it was comfy. And honestly, I sense I wasn't the only one in the gym who felt this might happen. That's no disrespect to the Lancers. Lincoln has been severely thinned down to a roster featuring seven Sophomores, a Freshmen, a Junior, and two Seniors-- one of which was playing in his first game in a Lincoln uniform. On the other side of the scorer's table, the veteran Mustangs start five Seniors, have four teammates who also played football together, and feature a Division 1 recruit who no doubt plays like a college baller.

Man! PIERCE HORNUNG, proved to me he's for real. Early. Often. And in the end. HORNUNG helped the Mustangs earn that early lead by dominating the boards-- especially on the offensive end-- and exploiting what I called a "sweet spot" just below the free-throw line. Whether it was attacking for a rebound or working for an open shot, the 6'5" future CSU Ram was just so strong and determined to get where he wanted and do what he needed. (Unofficially, he had 9 points and 14 rebounds.) Not that PIERCE was perfectly free to reign. Lincoln's DOMINIC WILLIAMS worked very hard shadowing HORNUNG in man-to-man D... but Ralston ain't no one-man band. Their leading scorer this season, shooting guard TAYLOR GILLACH, put in 13 first half points to help build that big lead. Lefty point man, SEAN MURPHY was sweet from the outside scoring 10. And when the Lancers forced a more aggressive, blue-collar vibe in the 3rd quarter, the very physical DANE JUNE handled that challenge along with forward LIAM FELTON who battled for a team-high 13 points.

Understand this: The Lancers never lied down. That's not gonna happen under Coach VINCE VALDEZ. Or with point guard and lone veteran, DANNY RODRIGUEZ, on the court. But Lincoln is clearly adjusting, learning, gelling, growing... while Ralston Valley remains solid with more seasoning and plenty of the right parts for MITCH CONRAD to coach his way to a third consecutive Final Four-- regardless of their recent move up to Class 5A.

Final: 48-44. RVM (7-2) Gillach 13, Felton 13. LL (3-6) D. Williams 15, Rodriguez 9. .