Last Saturday, January 18, the Boulder boys basketball team took on Highlands Ranch in the main gym. Within the first minutes of the first quarter, Boulder racked up points against Highlands Ranch. Although there was a small turnout of Boulder supporters, the energy was anything but unenthusiastic. Every time Boulder scored, the energy on the student side of the court skyrocketed, and boos would echo around the gym whenever Highland scored. By the end of the first quarter, Boulder and Highlands were tied 12-12.

As the second quarter started, the game picked up speed. Both teams racked up fouls and stolen balls in a constant back and forth across the squeaky gym floors. Looking upon the athletes’ faces, there was a certain level of intensity, of complete focus. From that moment forward, the game was fast paced. Senior Tyler Turner made an amazing and notable shot. However, by the end of the second quarter, prospects looked grim as Boulder was down 17 to 22.

By the end of the third quarter, the intensity came to a boiling peak. Boulder was down 32 to Highlands’ 38. The crowd was ecstatic, and shouts of “DEFENSE!” echoed throughout the gym. During the final quarter, Boulder found themselves down 7 points, and determination was plastered on the players’ faces. The crowd held their breath as the players ran towards the hoop, and went wild as soon as the ball went in. Boulder picked up the pace, and by the end of the game, Boulder won 57 to 51. It was one of the most interesting and exciting games that I personally have attended, and I was on my feet the entire time. As someone who is not a sports enthusiast, I highly encourage the student body to attend future games, as the adrenaline and energy are electrifying.