THORNTON – The Stargate high school boys basketball team held off a tenacious squad from The Academy on Salute To Service Night to pick up its seventh victory of the year. 

The Eagles led by as many as 21 points but needed to hold on late to pick up a 76-68 victory Jan. 19 in front of their home crowd. 

“We have a seasoned team,” Stargate coach Jason Gray said. “We instill holding our own and focus on keeping ourselves composed at the end of the day.” 

Before the game both teams honored the active and retired military and first responders with a ‘Salute to Service’ presentation. 

On the court, Stargate (7-3 overall and 2-2 in the class 4A/3A Metropolitan League) used a solid all-around effort to get the win. Four players scored in double figures, and a total of nine scored in the contest. 

“We have a lot of great individuals that love the game and buy into our system,” the coach said. 

Both teams took a while to get the balls to drop, but Stargate got rolling in the second quarter after ending the first with a 12-10 advantage. 

The Eagles feasted off of The Academy’s turnovers to open the quarter on a 14-2 run. David Thumma scored on back-to-back baskets, Hunter Roark stole the ball and scored on a fast-break basket and Dylan Perkins hit a pair of treys to push the lead to 37-24 at halftime. 

Stargate continued to press The Academy in the second half, not allowing open shots and playing the passing lanes. That attacking style opened up the Eagles’ offense. Roark scored on a pair of fast-break baskets, while Camden Cottrell and Perkins each hit from behind the arc to push the lead to 57-39. 

However, the Wildcats made a late push in the fourth. They outscored Stargate 21-7 to start the quarter as the Eagles struggled to get into their offense. And, they didn’t have an answer for The Academy’s sharp shooting on defense. 

But Thumma took the game over down the stretch. He scored seven of the final 10 points for Stargate to seal the victory. 

“He is our lone senior, and when he gets going, is hard to stop,” Gray said. “We have a very dynamic team. When we are firing on all cylinders – moving the ball, hitting shots and find open guys -- we look unstoppable.” 

Perkins was the top scorer for Stargate with 22 points, while Thumma added 16 and Roark and Cottrell chipped in 14 and 13, respectively. 

Perkins also had 12 rebounds and Reed Schoenfeld led the team with 11 assists.