Noah Johnson entered Saturday’s Sweet 16 game averaging 13.2 points for the season.

After 8 minutes of action against Grand Junction, the Rangers senior already hit that quota.

Johnson scored a game-high 24 points for the No. 6 seeded Rangers and Lewis-Palmer’s third quarter defense paved the way for a 70-57 victory against No. 11 Grand Junction.

The Rangers’ victory puts them in the quarterfinals for the sixth time in eight seasons. The Rangers also advanced to the Great 8 in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022.

“We knew coming in that this was going to be a physical battle and these guys were prepared for it,” Lewis-Palmer coach Bill Benton said. "We got some great looks and Noah stepped up and knocked them down.”

Grand Junction not only locked down opposing team’s all year, but the Tigers also checked their opponent’s top scorer.

According to stats on MaxPreps.com, the Tigers had not allowed a 20-point scorer since Jan. 21, 2023, when Durango’s Zach Unruh scored 21 against Grand Junction.

Along with Johnson’s 24, Cohen Edmondson also poured in 20 for the Rangers.

The Tigers went 91 consecutive games without allowing a team to score 70 or more in a game.

Lewis-Palmer’s final score marked the first time that Grand Junction allowed 70 points since Feb. 3, 2020, when Eagle Valley scored 71 against the Tigers.

“We talked about how Grand Junction only gives up 42 points a game,” Benton said. “We know they’re capable of putting the clamps on people and we wanted to control the pace. This squad can have different guys go off on different nights. Guys kept giving (Noah) the ball and he scored.”

Johnson finished 5-for-5 from the field in the opening frame and hit a pair of 3-pointers that helped the Rangers build a 22-14 lead after the first.

The Rangers senior also nailed his first two shots of the second quarter before missing his third to finish the first half 6-for-7 with 17 points.

Jonas Miller had eight points in the second and sank a pair of 3-pointers to help the Rangers build a 43-31 cushion at halftime.

“We always have guys ready to score,” Johnson said. “I know I have to shoot with confidence and that’s what led to a strong first half. My teammates trusted me, I trusted myself, and I think that’s the key for having a good shooting night.”

The Rangers shifted the paradigm in the third quarter from offense to defense and held the Tigers to just nine points in the frame and built their lead to 54-40 heading to the fourth.

Lewis-Palmer’s lead ballooned to 18 points in the fourth and the Rangers never let Grand Junction close the gap to less than 12 in the final frame.

“In the middle of the season, we had a few ups and downs defensively,” Johnson said. “Coach told us we had to lock in, especially on the defensive end. At halftime, we knew if we locked them down on defense the game would be over and that’s what we did.”

The Rangers head to Denver Coliseum on Friday for their quarterfinals matchup against No. 3 Windsor.

The Wizards beat Thomas Jefferson to advance to the Great 8 and have won both of their playoff games by double figures.

Lewis-Palmer’s only meeting with Windsor came in 2009 in the Great 8 when the Rangers earned a 43-41 win to advance to the Final Four.

“We’re excited to have the chance to play at the Coliseum, but we know it’s not over,” Johnson said. “We still have to finish the job.”