5A Second-Round Playoff Preview: Guy Gibbs Region
The first round of the 2016-17 Colorado 5A playoffs is in the books. In 16 first-round matchups, the higher seeds prevailed in 14 of them. That sets up some very intriguing matchups in the second round, which takes place on…
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Continue ReadingThe first round of the 2016-17 Colorado 5A playoffs is in the books. In 16 first-round matchups, the higher seeds prevailed in 14 of them. That sets up some very intriguing matchups in the second round, which takes place on Saturday.
Let’s get right into previewing our first region, in order of tipoff times:
5A Guy Gibbs Region
No. 19 Regis Jesuit (13-11) at No. 14 Chaparral (14-9), Saturday, 2 p.m.
The Scoop: It’s always special when you can get a competitive league matchup incorporated into the playoffs. We have that here in this Continental League clash. What’s more? These teams met just 10 days ago, with Chaparral riding sophomore forwards Ronnie DeGray and Bryce Matthews — who combined for 37 points on 16-of-24 shooting and 15 rebounds — in a 65-47 victory. The Wolverines blew that game open with an 18-4 edge in the second quarter. Overall, a young Regis Jesuit team has gained its footing of late. Can it make up enough ground from that meeting 10 days ago to pull an upset?
Matchup To Watch: Regis Jesuit defense vs. Chaparral’s DeGray and Matthews. The sheer dominance the two talented sophomore big men deployed back on Feb. 15 makes limiting their impact this time around a clear objective for the Raiders. Matt Wheelock, Justin Lamb and Samba Kane will all need to play a role in limiting the strong Chaparral duo, while the Raiders will also need collapsing help from their guards, who must then get back to shooters on the edge like Joseph Dalton and Kobe Sanders.
Moving On: While Regis Jesuit should be more prepared for what they see from their league rivals this time around, Chaparral will earn a hard-fight victory and advance to the Sweet 16.
No. 30 Ralston Valley (14-10) at No. 3 George Washington (21-2), Saturday, 3 p.m.
The Scoop: Playing a gritty form of grind-it-out team basketball, Ralston Valley has banded together to surprise some people this season, a collective effort that has helped mitigate the loss of 6-foot-11 center Antonio Capley, who is now at Black Hills State. The Mustangs already beat one team with a first-round bye — No. 16 Lakewood — earlier this season, and they moved into the second round with a double-digit victory over Fruita Monument. But this will be the toughest task Ralston Valley has faced yet — a ferocious, attacking defense that loves to turn miscues into lightning-quick points. The Patriots are on an 11-game winning streak and haven’t lost since their first game back from the holiday break on Jan. 6.
Matchup To Watch: Ralston Valley backcourt vs. George Washington guards Calvin and Jon’il Fugett. The Mustangs know any hope of pulling off a monumental upset will hinge on their ability to keep high-scoring G-Dub from turning the game into a track meet. That means Ralston Valley’s main ball-handlers in freshman Caden Gigstad and junior Jake Nishida must take care of the basketball, but they’ll also need help from wing and front court players like Jerrod Parker to relieve some of that pressure.
Moving On: George Washington begins a postseason march the Patriots believe will end in a championship by turning up in the tempo in a win over the Mustangs, setting up a Sweet 16 matchup with Chaparral.
No. 27 Arapahoe (10-14) at No. 6 Doherty (20-3), Saturday, 6 p.m.
The Scoop: Arapahoe survived a tooth-and-nail finish to beat Pine Creek 47-44 in the first round. Now they’ll get a second-round matchup with the Colorado Springs Metro League champs in Doherty, and there are some interesting connections in the game. Arapahoe’s tough-nosed 6-5 senior forward Jared Johnson played during the club season for the Colorado Miners alongside Doherty guards Brevin Brimble and Emmanuel Burleson.
Matchup To Watch: The 3-point battle. Both of these teams have major weapons from long range. Though Arapahoe hit just 9-of-30 shots from 3-point range in the first-round win, the Warriors are certainly capable of getting hot from deep, keyed seniors Kyle Lukasiewicz and Will Otten. Few are deadlier from beyond the arc than Doherty’s Brimble, who has nailed 76 3s and shoots 39 percent from that range. Burleson (41 percent) is also a consistent outside shooter, and Brimble’s ability to break down defenses and create can lead to a lot of open kickouts. In addition to that, Doherty runs such clean, constant motion that open shots can prop up in spades. Arapahoe will have to be fundamentally disciplined to limit that outside threat.
Moving On: The Spartans ride their rowdy home crowd into the Sweet 16.
No. 43 Broomfield (11-13) at No. 11 Fort Collins (20-3), Saturday, 6:30 p.m.
The Scoop: In another matchup of league foes, Broomfield will be trying avenge a 69-57 loss to Fort Collins three weeks ago in Front Range League play. Fort Collins, which went undefeated in FRL play to win the league, has won 14 games in a row and hasn’t lost since Dec. 22. In the earlier win over Broomfield, Fort Collins got a career-high 18 points from 6-4 junior forward Sam Tiley, who hit 7-of-8 shots in the game. Broomfield advanced to the second round with a 66-63 road upset of No. 22 seed Grand Junction on Wednesday.
Matchup To Watch: Broomfield senior PG Sam Foster vs. Fort Collins senior PG Iseri Palacio. These two Colorado Titans teammates are the keys to their teams’ engines. Foster has averaged 15.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists this season. Palacio enters the contest with season averages of 13.3 points, 6.3 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game. This should be an entertaining point guard matchup that could very well help decide the outcome of the game.
Moving On: Finding a similar formula it used in the first matchup, Fort Collins advances to face Doherty in the Sweet 16 next week.