Prep Hoops 5A Team Rankings: Week 10
We are getting down to the nitty gritty in 5A, with teams continuing to elbow for playoff position with only two weeks remaining in the regular season.
Here’s a look at where teams stand in the 10th installment of our team rankings:
1. ThunderRidge (18-1; LW: 1)
The Grizzlies have been holding down the top spot since shortly after the start of the new year, and they are still the only team in 5A that hasn’t lost to a team from Colorado. T-Ridge will try to make it 11 straight wins when it travels to face a young but talented Chaparral team on Tuesday night.
2. George Washington (17-2; LW: 2)
The Patriots scored 107 points last week in a win over Kennedy, with six different Patriots reaching double figures in scoring. Only four Denver Public League games remain for G-Dub, and the Patriots know they can’t get caught looking ahead to an anticipated regular-season finale against Denver East one week from Saturday.
3. Chatfield (18-1; LW: 3)
The Chargers boosted their state-leading winning streak to 17 games last week with victories over Lakewood and Arvada West, wins that all but locked up a second straight JeffCo League title.
4. Rock Canyon (17-2; LW: 4)
The Jaguars are becoming more and more comfortable with winning games however they need to. They authored a thrilling comeback over Mountain Vista and then stifled Chaparral in an ugly defensive battle. If Rock Canyon came keep doing that this week — with games coming against Legend, Highlands Ranch and Castle View — they have a chance to set up a winner-take-all matchup in the Continental League finale against ThunderRidge one week from Friday.
5. Grandview (18-1; LW: 5)
The Wolves only seem to be getting better as the season progresses, and that’s especially true of 6-7 senior forward Gaige Prim (pictured above). He can present major matchup problems the rest of the way. The question is whether he’ll be able to lead his team to another victory over Eaglecrest on Wednesday. The winner of that game will become the odds-on favorite to win the vaunted Centennial League.
6. Eaglecrest (16-3; LW: 6)
Like all the teams ahead of them in our standings, the Raptors are in the middle of a long winning streak. They’ve won seven games in a row, undefeated since a heartbreaking 70-67 loss to Grandview on Jan. 13. Eaglecrest has a chance to exact revenge when it hosts the Wolves on Wednesday night.
7. Doherty (15-3; LW: 7)
Behind 20 points from Brevin Brimble and 12 from forward Kayden Washington, the Spartans edged Pine Creek 50-44 last Thursday to move to 9-0 in the 5A Colorado Springs Metro League. Doherty could all but wrap up a second straight CSML title with a win over second-place Rampart on Thursday. First, the Spartans have a chance to make a statement when it hits the road to face Denver East on Tuesday.
8. Denver East (14-5; LW: 10)
The Angels appear to be rounding into form after lopsided wins last week over DPL rivals Denver North and Lincoln. Daylen Kountz, the 6-5 junior wing, scored 51 points combined in the two wins and is averaging 23.3 points, 4.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds in the eight games he’s played this season. A home matchup against Doherty on Tuesday offers a chance for a resume-boosting win.
9. Fort Collins (16-3; LW: unranked)
The Lambkins, 9-0 in the Front Range League, make their debut in our rankings for the season. This is a highly experienced team with stout senior leadership. They also have one of the state’s best point guards in Iseri Palacio, who set a school record with 14 assists in a victory last week.
10. Cherry Creek (14-5; LW: 8)
The Bruins rebounded from a loss to surging Overland to top Mullen last week. Two tough matchups are in store for the Bruins this week against Arapahoe and Eaglecrest as they attempt to remain in the hunt for a top playoff seed.