Top Five Games To Watch On Opening Night
It’s finally here! The 2016-17 season gets underway today with an exciting slate of games, and the action pours into a busy first weekend. Let’s dive right into some of the best games of the season’s opening week: George Washington…
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Continue ReadingIt’s finally here!
The 2016-17 season gets underway today with an exciting slate of games, and the action pours into a busy first weekend.
Let’s dive right into some of the best games of the season’s opening week:
George Washington vs. Monarch, 4:30 p.m.
The scoop: As part of the Mountain Vista tournament, this game matches the speedy Patriots against a team under first-year coach Josh Brenning that has intriguing talent, particularly in the backcourt.
Matchup to watch: How will Monarch’s guards Taye Jones, Tylor Trinh and Keegan Johnson handle the pressure provided by the Fugett brothers and Jervay Green?
Prediction: George Washington
Rampart vs. Arapahoe, 4:30 p.m.
The scoop: The Rams are an experienced team that believes it has the pieces to make a deep playoff run. Same goes for the Warriors, who made big headway last season in the Centennial League.
Matchup to watch: Kyle Lukasiewicz, ‘Rap’s 6-3 senior guard, is poised for a big season. We’d expect Rampart’s versatile 6-4 senior Malik Salley to be matched up with ‘Luka often.
Prediction: Rampart
Dakota Ridge vs. Fossil Ridge, 6:30 p.m.
The scoop: The battle of the Ridge at Fossil’s tournament. It will be intriguing to see how D-Ridge coach Curi Yutzy has reconstructed his team after losing basically everybody from a second weekend playoff team last season.
Matchup to watch: D-Ridge’s perimeter defense versus Fossil’s Braxton Bertolette. Can they stop the sharpshooter from putting on a show in the opening game of his senior season?
Prediction: Fossil Ridge
Chaparral vs. Eaglecrest, 7 p.m.
The scoop: You have to give this one the label of game of the night. Chaparral made big headway toward the end of last season as its cast of young players — the Wolverines started three freshman! — began to gain experience. Hopes are high for Chaparral this season, and it will have a great barometer of where it’s at after this game.
Matchup to watch: Colbey Ross, our preseason player of the year, is going to get his points. But can Ronnie DeGray, Chaparral’s 6-6 sophomore forward, limit the production of ‘Crest’s auxiliary players, like 6-5 senior Josh Walton, on the inside?
Prediction: Eaglecrest
Chatfield vs. Douglas County, 7 p.m.
The scoop: Chatfield has some nice pieces back from last year’s final four run. Douglas County keeps taking steps forward under Earl Boykins and believes it is in for a big season. This is a nice early matchup of talented squads with a lot to prove.
Matchup to watch: Camron Dunfee, a 6-1 junior who transferred from Texas, has earned rave reviews for his play during the spring and summer. In his first high school game in Colorado, can he find the success against tough perimeter defenders like Mike Vrabel?
Prediction: Chatfield