By Brendan Henry

The Surveyor

The Spartan basketball team embarked on a lengthy journey to Aspen for their first playoff appearance since the 2011-12 season. Unfortunately, the Spartans succumbed to Aspen with a final score of 70-58, marking the conclusion of the impressive 13-10 season for Berthoud’s boys.

Despite a 12-point discrepancy, both teams seemed evenly matched. In the first period, junior Isaac Erickson started strong by contributing 11 of the team’s 15 points, helping the team keep the score close at 15-13 as they entered the second period.

As the second period unfolded, Aspen gained momentum, eventually taking the lead after scoring 20 points in the period against Berthoud’s 12. Junior Wes Sullivan made a successful free throw following a layup and foul just before halftime, reducing the deficit to 33-27.

Senior Tate Gomes attempted to spark a comeback into the third period, draining a three from the corner. Despite the effort and a long possession in the period, Aspen spun the game their way, eventually establishing an 11-point lead. Sophomore Ryan Callies hit a half-court three-point buzzer-beater, minimizing the deficit going into the fourth period to 50-42.

In the final period, the Spartans tried to steal back their first-period lead, reducing their deficit to five points, but Aspen thwarted their efforts. Berthoud made mistakes and gave up too many free throws to Aspen, who efficiently capitalized on the opportunities. These free points ultimately put the game out of reach, sealing Berthoud’s fate with a final score of 70-58.

Despite the loss in the first game of the postseason, this team can proudly say that they put up the best regular season of any Berthoud boys basketball team in at least 20 years. While lowered heads are a natural response to the ending of a team’s season, this Spartan squad can keep their chins up knowing that they broke the losing trend of seasons past.

“I couldn’t be more proud of them and the way that they’ve taken this program, really turning it around, and in a two-year span, to come from where we started to where we are is a remarkable accomplishment,” Head Coach Lee Espinoza said after the game. “Their impression on the program is going to last.”

Espinoza is both satisfied with his team and proud to have been their coach for the past three years.

“I’m just really, really grateful that they allowed me to be their coach and that they were as coachable as they were, and they put so much effort and hard work into everything we did and doing everything I asked them to do,” Espinoza said.

Although the season is over, the boys are eager to return to the grind right away. Espinoza and his team are going to look back at their mistakes and adjust as needed for next year, hopeful to make a return to the playoff bracket.