AURORA — Finish the job.

It’s the message junior Archie Weatherspoon V has gotten from multiple members of last year’s Rangeview team. 

“Some of my teammates have been calling me this week like, ‘Yeah man, we haven’t been to a game yet all season, but we’re gonna be there (this weekend) for y’all.’ They kept saying, ‘Finish the job,’” Weatherspoon told The Denver Gazette.

The Raiders entered last year’s 6A boys basketball Final 4 unbeaten and looking to make history and become the first team in Colorado’s top classification to finish the season with a perfect record and a state championship since Denver East in 2004. They came up two wins short, falling to defending champion Valor Christian.

“It definitely sticks with me,” Weatherspoon said. “We definitely feel it, but I feel like we really have the team this year.”

Go to any Rangeview game, and you’ll see why. Weatherspoon already has a handful of DI offers, including from Northern Colorado, and combined with senior Aidan Perez and sophomore Marceles Duncan, they’re a high-flying trio capable of making highlight-reel plays that often make the rounds on Instagram.

The Raiders are 23-3 on the season with no losses against teams from Colorado heading into Friday’s semifinal against No. 2 seed Ralston Valley at 7:15 p.m. They won a pair of games in Arizona in early December, including one against powerhouse Perry in Gilbert, a school that has recently produced two five-star recruits in current Arizona star Koa Peat and former CU Buffs standout Cody Williams.

They then went to Las Vegas for the Tarkanian Classic, where they went 1-3 and suffered their only defeats of the season, but learned how close they were to being an elite team with those three losses decided by just 11 points.

“Being able to play all of these highly-ranked players and nationally-ranked teams, it just shows we’re not that far from it,” Weatherspoon said. “The gap between us and the top 15 team in the nation that we played against, it’s not that big of a gap. It gives me a sense of comfortability. When we’re really locked in, we could be considered a top 30 team in the nation.”

Weatherspoon knows he and his team have to go out and prove that this weekend. Just getting to this point isn’t enough; the Raiders learned the hard way last year. Everyone who walks into the Rangeview gym can see the banner that lists all of the school’s Final 4 appearances. Getting here is the expectation; winning it all is what gets you remembered forever.

“They know a lot of our alumni that have played on some of those teams — some of our coaches are a part of that alumni group that have come back and shared the knowledge and experience about it, as well,” coach Shawn Palmer told The Denver Gazette. “This is a pretty seasoned group, even though technically we’re still pretty young. They’ve been through some battles. They’re prepared for some difficult games.

“Any of the four teams could win. It’s just about playing well when it matters and staying together and connected when things don’t go perfectly. I’m confident we’re going to play well. Whether we win or not, I believe we’re gonna play well and give it our best.”

Palmer has been preaching to his team all week that the team that defends the best will leave the Denver Coliseum with the trophy on Saturday night. All he needs to do is show his players the film from their Great 8 win over Cherry Creek — when they didn’t make a 3-pointer in the entire first half — to get his point across.

The veteran coach doesn’t have to worry about his Rangeview team not being ready for the moment. The Raiders are the only team left that advanced past the Great 8 last weekend. The Coliseum feels like home to this group and they’re ready to finish the job.

“I honestly feel 10 times better than I did last year,” Weatherspoon said. “Super confident.”

---

Other storylines to watch

6A: Despite no losses to Colorado teams yet this season, Rangeview doesn’t enter the Final 4 as the favorites. That honor belongs to No. 1 seed Chapparal, who is 24-2 with no losses since Jan. 3. The Wolverines are led by a pair of standout juniors in Luke Howery, a Colorado State commit, and Christian Williams, a three-star who has an offer from the Rams. 

5A: This is the chaos bracket with only the Nos. 8, 10, 11 and 13 seeds remaining to fight it out for a state title. Lewis-Palmer is the top team remaining after knocking off No. 1 seed Palisade last weekend, but look out for defending champion Windsor, which is led by senior star and Wyoming signee Madden Smiley, also the son of Northern Colorado coach Steve Smiley. 

4A: Can Kent Denver repeat and win its third title in school history? Behind senior star and Air Force commit Caleb Fay, the Sun Devils are certainly the favorites after dispatching No. 9 seed Denver West on Wednesday at the Coliseum. Kent Denver is 22-3 and the No. 1 seed in the bracket, with all three losses coming to schools in higher classifications.