5A Playoff Preview: Maceo Broadnax Region
Before the season started I stated that this year was a year that was wide open as no team stood head and shoulders above the rest. Well, with no undefeated teams, close league play battles and surprise league champions it’s safe to say that this is one of the most wide-open state tournaments we have in quite some time—I can’t wait! As a result, we’ll be taking a look at each region as who we believe will win it and who else might surprise us.
Maceo Broadnax Region
Who is in it:
Smoky Hill, Fairview, Pine Creek, George Washington, Lincoln, Bear Creek, Denver East, Dakota Ridge, Denver South, Liberty, Legend, Monarch
Who will win it?
This is arguably the strongest region and I’ll go out on a limb and say it’s the top one. There’s East, GW, Smoky Hill and Liberty which is as strong as you get out of a group and honestly ANY of these teams listed could make it out. But, if I had to side with the team that I believe comes out on top I think I’m going with George Washington. They seem to have the easiest route until they face-off against another top team and with Xavier Cooper, Jon’il Fugett and Trey Pierce playing some of their best basketball all season, it’s the perfect time to put the state on notice. This is a deep team that you can get production from others such as Kendale Johnson, Mohammed Diallo and Devon Jones and it becomes really tough to beat a team that gets out and runs the way that they do. This is a fun bunch and with Pierce out of foul trouble this becomes one of the toughest teams to score on in the paint or secure rebounds against. The key to beating this team is controlling the pace and foul trouble, but it seems as if they’re figuring it out and coming along–they’ll be a tough out.
Surprise team?
My surprise team out of this region is Smoky Hill. They had a few hiccups along the road, but when they’re focused and dialed in I’m unsure there’s another team in the state that can match-up with them. They’re solid squad from top to bottom and have both elite guard play and solid big men, they just haven’t seemed to keep it going for a sustained amount of time. But with playoffs here I’m sure we’ll see as dialed in a team as any and at their best they’ll be a hard team to beat. Kenny Foster, Will Becker, John Harge and Quinten Rock will all have to get it going all at the same time especially when, not if, they face-off against Denver East in the 2nd round. That’ll be one of the top games of the tournament and the winner of that game will most likely ride that momentum into the next game. From there, the skies the limit.
Key Game in the First Round with a prediction:
Denver South versus Dakota Ridge
This is a battle of No. 29 Dakota Ridge vs. No. 36 Denver South and also a rematch of a game that happened earlier in the year in which Dakota Ridge won 58-49. Since then, things have changed for both teams and it should be a bit more entertaining and closer than the last game. For South it’s Elias “AC” Curry that’s been getting it done. He’s leading the team in scoring at 12.3 points, rebounding at 8.0 boards and blocks at 1.6 stuffs a game that’s kept the Rebels in contention. Cortney Dean, DoVon Sentmore and Jerrico Banks have also contributed in many ways and it’s a bunch that plays together until the final whistle. On the other side of the game is Dakota Ridge that’s ready to prove that last game was no fluke. Cole Binder is their leading scorer at 17 points a game. Him, Antonio Norton and Drew Dominic have been quite the trio and have made it tough on teams each night and this one should be no different. I believe the Rebels will keep it close but Dakota Ridge will escape with another victory.
Key players to watch for out of this region:
Will Becker, Kenny Foster, John Harge, Quinten Rock, Jon’il Fugett, Xavier Cooper, Tray Pierce, Mo Diallo, Cortney Dean, Kwane Marble, Daylen Kountz, Ty Foster, Moz Doria