LITTLETON — The Chatfield boys basketball team is making a fresh start this season after a rough 4-19 record last year. With a new head coach, Nathan Jerome, the Chargers have hit the ground running, currently holding a 2-1 record following a commanding 68-36 victory over D’Evelyn in the first round of the Charger Tournament at Chatfield High School.
“We’ve put the work in and decided to step it up,” said senior Creighton Chaney. “We don’t want teams to look at us on their schedule and just bypass us.” The team is determined to change their reputation, and Chaney believes that teamwork is the key. “The hardest part is getting your whole team on the same page,” he added.
Coach Jerome, who previously assisted at Dakota Ridge for three years, has instilled a fresh mindset in his players. “Some of it was just building the confidence back up,” he explained. “In a good way we only had a few kids who played varsity last year. We don’t have a lot of experience, and sometimes that is good.” During their impressive win against D’Evelyn, ten players scored, with sophomore Brody Logan leading with 14 points and Chaney contributing 10 points.
The Chargers jumped to an early lead, owning a 10-0 advantage at the start. Despite a momentary slump that allowed D’Evelyn to take a 12-10 lead, Chatfield’s defense clamped down, allowing only 23 points in the final three quarters of play. “Defense is definitely where we want to start everything,” Jerome stated.
Looking forward, Chatfield will compete in the semifinals of the tournament, facing Highlands Ranch on Friday, Dec. 13. Chaney emphasized the importance of each game, saying, “Every game is important no matter what. You want to fight with the same effort. Hopefully, we can bring this one home and win this tournament. That’s our goal.”
The success of the Chargers so far may be just the beginning of a turnaround season filled with promise.
