DENVER — It made a big difference for the Devlin men’s basketball team to have everyone on deck Wednesday night.
After battling illness and injury in the first few weeks of the regular season, the Jaguars went 100% in the Class 4A non-league matchup against DSST: Montview (5-2).
After the Jaguars beat the Knights 62-45 at home, Devlin coach Will Gosh said: “These kids will get fit and come for us.”
D’Evelyn (4-3) went defensively, limiting Montview’s field goals to just eight goals in the first three quarters. The Jaguars had him leading 49-25 heading into the final quarter.
The defense showed strength for the second day in a row. The Jaguars ended their three-game losing streak last night against the Academy, where he scored a 67-44 blowout win.
Devlin senior Elijah Gasmus said of the Jaguars’ winning streak, beating Academy and Montview by less than 50 points. “We switched defenses all night and scouted the team. We were ready for both games.”
Gasmus poured in a game-high 26 points, including three 3-pointers in the first half, to open up a comfortable 34-15 halftime lead. Despite playing day after day, the Jaguars went into the game with good energy.
“I’m exhausted. I’m very tired,” Gassmann admitted. “We got through it, so I’m happy.”
Gosch was happy with another win to cross the .500 mark. Combined, D’Evelyn’s first five of him — Gusmus, Kellen Olson, Taj Kumar, Max Monroe and Nick Vacanti — gave him 54 points.
“We’re in really good shape right now,” Gasmus said of a good six-day practice week between games to kick off this week’s stretch of three games in four.
D’Evelyn will be back in action on Friday night with another home game against Faith Christian. The Eagles (4-0) are undefeated in all wins with double-digit points.
“Faith is a really good team. Montview beat CA (Colorado Academy) and we lost to CA,” Gassman said. “This is a great victory.”
Sophomore Harun Hama led the Knights’ scoring with nine points off the bench.
DSST: Montview is now taking a three-plus week hiatus between games. The Knights won’t be back on the court until his home game against Lake County after New Year’s on January 7.
D’Evelyn has played a demanding schedule outside the league. The three straight losses included losses to No. 4 Lewis Palmer in 5A and No. 2 Holy Family in 4A.
The Jaguars will play in the 5A/4A Jeffco League pairing when conference play begins after the winter break. D’Evelyn performed well in his 4A state in his Sweet 16 of his tournament before he lost 67-65 to Frederick who eventually made it to the semi-finals.
“There are a lot of great teams we’re learning from,” Gosh said of the 4A classification, where Frederick is currently ranked #1 in CHSAAANow.com’s 4A Men’s Basketball Poll. “That’s the fun part of the process, this new adjustment.”