In a big way at a big time, Lairden Rogge started knocking down shot after shot. His performance in the Manitou Springs boys basketball team’s 85-59 win over Vanguard was one of the best offensive outputs in recent years and certainly the best offensive performance by a Mustang all season.
“The last two games we’ve averaged almost 80 points,” coach Brian Vecchio said. “I’m proud of their efforts and how far they’ve come offensively. We just need to continue to do what we do defensively because, in those two games, we also gave up 26 3-pointers.”
The Mustangs (7-6 overall, 5-3 Tri-Peaks) ended a three-game losing streak with a big win over Ellicott on Jan. 21.
But the win against the Coursers might just be an indication of how this team will play for the remainder of the season. They jumped out to a 21-8 lead after the first quarter and never looked back.
Rogge scored a career-high 28 points and was hot from 3-point range, knocking down six triples by the final buzzer. At the beginning of the year, he knew his role would be more important for the Mustangs offense and it looks like he’s embracing that responsibility.
“It’s definitely been building up throughout the season,” Rogge said. “There’s more to come. We have six more games in the regular season and I have to try to keep up in that role.”
The 85 points ties a team-high for Manitou this season and it is the most points that the team has scored in a win. Three other Mustangs scored in double figures as John Maynard had 19, Ethan Boren had 11 and Anthony Snow had 10.
The Mustangs have come a long way since the season opener where they scored just 17 points in a loss to Peyton.
“What took us the early part of the season to battle through is the lack of having a big summer schedule and playing a bunch of games together,” Vecchio said. “I think they’ve finally found their offensive niche a little bit.”
With the regular season winding down, the Mustangs still have time to position themselves well for the start of the district tournament. Three of their final five games are against Tri-Peaks teams and wins in all three will assure them of being no lower than the No. 4 seed.