Second-Round Spotlight: Lincoln vs. ThunderRidge
Much like the other team in the 2015 5A state title game, Overland, ThunderRidge has steamrolled through the back portion of its season after what can only be described as a mild set of roadblocks midway through the campaign. A…
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Continue ReadingMuch like the other team in the 2015 5A state title game, Overland, ThunderRidge has steamrolled through the back portion of its season after what can only be described as a mild set of roadblocks midway through the campaign. A combination of experience, length and numerous positions, strong athleticism and great shooting, not to mention one of the state’s best coaches in Joe Ortiz, makes the Grizzlies extremely dangerous as the calendar flips to march.
A player to watch for the Grizzlies: Troy Brady. Shooting better than 50 percent (and at a high volume) from 3-point range for most of the season, the 6-foot unsigned 2016 guard can absolutely light it up in a hurry. Brady has started to gather some small-college interest, including from the RMAC, and will bring instant scoring potential to any program he joins. For now, he presents a difficult matchup for defenders, because it’s not as if opponents can just leave ThunderRidge’s leading scorer, 6-8 Stetson-bound Clay Verk inside and pay more attention to the perimeter. And the Grizzlies share the wealth.
That all makes for a very difficult challenge for a Lincoln team that is beginning to find its stride under first-year head coach Dre Calloway. The Lancers have won four straight games, and they had an impressive 64-48 victory over ninth-seeded Legacy in the first round, a game in which four players netted double figures.
A player to watch for the Lancers: Tino Chavez. The 6-5 senior forward is a tough-nosed player who does a little bit of everything for Lincoln and provides strong leadership. He scored 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting in the victory over Legacy with three steps, and he want be afraid to make ThunderRidge’s long front line of Verk and Austin Mueller earn everything they get. Big man Noe Davilla (10 rebounds vs. Legacy) will be key to that effort as well, as will the production of versatile 6-5 wing Umar Jalloh.
In the other Chauncey Billups Region games, we are picking Cherry Creek over Rampart; Chatfield over Aurora Central; and George Washington over Greeley West.