The Mountain Vista varsity basketball team (Highlands Ranch, CO) will host a home playoff game against Loveland (CO) today at 6:30 PM. This matchup is part of the 2025 CHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournaments – Class 6A.

Mountain Vista vs Loveland Game Info:

What: Colorado High School Basketball
Who: Mountain Vista (CO) vs Loveland (CO)
When: Friday, February 28, 2025
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Bracket: 2025 CHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournaments – Class 6A
Live stream: Watch here

Game preview: Mountain Vista vs Loveland

As the 2024-25 high school basketball season unfolds in Colorado, two teams—Loveland and Mountain Vista—have emerged as competitive forces within their respective classes. While both teams boast impressive records, a deeper dive into the statistics highlights key differences in performance and playing style.

Overall Team Performance

Loveland enters with a solid 17-7 overall record, while Mountain Vista slightly edges them out at 18-5. Mountain Vista’s league record (9-1) is significantly stronger than Loveland’s (6-6), indicating dominance in conference play. Additionally, Mountain Vista has a higher overall win percentage (.783) compared to Loveland (.708), reinforcing its position as a top contender.

Scoring and Offensive Efficiency

Mountain Vista holds a substantial advantage in offensive production, averaging 76.6 points per game compared to Loveland’s 60.1. Breaking it down by quarter, Mountain Vista consistently outperforms Loveland in all four periods:

• Q1: Mountain Vista (20.6) vs. Loveland (19.5)
• Q2: Mountain Vista (18.4) vs. Loveland (14.7)
• Q3: Mountain Vista (18.3) vs. Loveland (13.6)
• Q4: Mountain Vista (19.4) vs. Loveland (14.4)

These numbers suggest Mountain Vista not only starts strong but maintains a high level of play throughout the game, whereas Loveland’s scoring output diminishes in the latter half.

Defensive and Rebounding Metrics

Both teams exhibit strong defensive efforts, but Mountain Vista’s defense appears more formidable, averaging 9.8 steals and 4.5 blocks per game, compared to Loveland’s 8.5 steals and 1.3 blocks. Rebounding is another area where Mountain Vista (35.5 RPG) holds a slight edge over Loveland (33.4 RPG), which could be crucial in controlling possession.

Key Player Contributions

Several standout players have made an impact for both teams:

• Points Per Game: Mountain Vista’s Cal Baskind leads with 20.4 PPG, surpassing Loveland’s top scorer, Zayne Desouza, who averages 15.0 PPG.
• Rebounds Per Game: Mountain Vista’s Oliver Junker dominates with 10.7 RPG, outpacing Desouza’s 9.0 RPG.
• Assists Per Game: Carlos Arocho (Mountain Vista) orchestrates the offense with 5.5 APG, compared to Jax Poole (Loveland) with 3.5 APG.
• Defensive Contributions: While both teams have aggressive defenders, Mountain Vista’s shot-blocking ability, led by Junker (2.5 BPG), gives them an extra layer of rim protection over Desouza’s 0.4 BPG for Loveland.

Head-to-Head & Common Opponents

Although the two teams have not faced each other directly, their performances against common opponents suggest a competitive matchup. Loveland defeated Fort Collins twice (66-38 and 48-31), while Mountain Vista secured a dominant 88-39 victory against Fort Collins. These results indicate that both teams can handle similar competition but with different scoring margins.

Home vs. Away Performance

Mountain Vista has remained unbeaten at home (8-0), while Loveland has been strong but not invincible (9-3). On the road, Mountain Vista (9-4) has fared slightly better than Loveland (4-4). A neutral-site matchup could level the playing field, but Mountain Vista’s road success hints at their adaptability.

Conclusion

Mountain Vista appears to have the upper hand statistically, with superior scoring, rebounding, and defensive capabilities. However, Loveland has shown resilience and could pose a challenge, especially if they control the tempo and tighten up defensively. If these two teams meet in the postseason, it could be a thrilling clash of styles, with Mountain Vista’s high-powered offense facing Loveland’s balanced approach.

Regardless of the final outcome, both teams have proven themselves as formidable contenders in Colorado high school basketball this season.