Tigers set to play in Great 8 in Denver

GJHS boys basketball is one of the eight remaining teams in Colorado for the first time in almost three decades

Landon Ward and Lincoln McQuade • March 4, 2026

The GJHS boys’ basketball team celebrates as they win their second playoff game against Golden. The final score was 54-41.

The Grand Junction High School boys basketball team is headed to Denver for the first time in 30 years after a second-round playoff victory against Golden High School.

According to GJHS athletic director Shawn Marsh, the last time GJHS boys basketball made it to the Final 8 teams in Denver was in 1996. The Tigers are ranked No. 2 in Class 5A. They are entering the Great 8 with a 21-4 record and 8-2 league record.

“[Getting to the Great 8] is definitely an opportunity not very many people get to experience, so I’m blessed to be able to,” said GJHS sophomore guard Grant Lewis, who scored 18 points in the win against Golden High School.

The Tigers jumped out to an early lead in the March 3 home game against No. 18 Golden. But the lead was down to a single point midway through the fourth quarter.

GJHS and Lutheran will play Saturday, March 7, in the 10,200-capacity Denver Coliseum. All Great 8 games onward will take place in the arena as well, ending with the championship game on March 14.

GJHS boys basketball head coach Dutch Johnson has been with the Tigers for a total of 14 seasons, though they were not consecutive. In all 14 seasons Johnson has been the head coach, the Tigers have made the playoffs.

Top players this season include GJHS seniors Andrew Henderson and Noah Schmalz, and sophomores Lewis and Will Weirath. Henderson and Weirath each scored 12 points in the win over Golden.

“Getting to the Great 8 is really hard to do, so I’m just proud of the work [the team] has put in to get to this point,” said Johnson.

The Tigers will play No. 10-ranked Lutheran High School in their first round in Denver. Lutheran, a school in Parker, beat No. 7 Rampart High School 58-60 to reach the Great 8.

GJHS and Lutheran have three common opponents this season. Lutheran lost to Palisade 83-63, lost to Fruita Monument 79-61, and beat Central 61-60. GJHS won its first playoff game at home against Discovery Canyon High School 68-36 on Feb. 27.

The remaining matchups in the Great 8, March 7 at Denver Coliseum:

#1 Palisade vs #8 Lewis-Palmer

#13 Silver Creek vs. #12 Mesa Ridge

#2 Grand Junction vs. #10 Lutheran

#3 Severance vs #11 Windsor

Editor’s Note: The Orange & Black Staff contributed to this article.

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About the Contributors

Landon Ward, Online Editor

Landon Ward is a junior at GJHS, and is the Online Editor for the Orange and Black newspaper. He enjoys playing tennis and the outdoors. He joined the Orange and Black during the second semester of the 2023-2024 school year.

Lincoln McQuade, Managing Editor

Lincoln McQuade is a GJHS senior and this year’s Managing Editor. This is his second year on the staff and his first as an editor. Lincoln enjoys playing the guitar and bass, and he is very excited to be a prominent editor this year.

Wren Wilcox, Reporter

Wren Wilcox is a sophomore at Grand Junction High School and a reporter for the Orange & Black Newspaper. She enjoys swimming, playing softball, hanging out with friends and being outside. This is her first year being a part of the Orange & Black.