Class 4A Second Round Preview: Ron Vlasin Region
Heading into the season it was known that the 4A class was going to be a fun class full of exciting games, close competition and surprises and it hasn’t let us down yet. Heading into the second round of the playoffs, there are still many questions that’ll have to be answered before we crown a team state champs. 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.
Ron Vlasin Region
Who is in it:
Falcon, Fort Morgan, Air Academy, D’Evelyn, Mead, Littleton, Longmont, Cheyenne Mountain, Thompson Valley, Windsor, Steamboat Springs, Skyline
Who will win it?
Longmont. They’re 21-2 on the year as they were a perfect 14-0 in league play being crown champs. I really am shocked that they somehow lost to a 10-14 Skyline team, but, I fully expect them to bounce back and start their quest at bringing in a state championship as they are No.5 overall and it starts against Cheyenne Mountain. Their senior guard Luke Johnson had a great junior year and is now having the best year of his career at 18.3 points a game and ready to lead the Trojan squad to a late playoff run. With contributions from Dallas Dye, Brady Renck, Beck Page and Calvin Seamons they have what it takes to get the job done and why they’re favorites to come out of this region.
Surprise team?
The team that’ll most likely face-off against Longmont is No. 4 Falcon. They sit at 18-5 on the year as they went 11-3 in their conference and they’re on a four game winning streak. They’re led by Reece Warren who’s having an incredible year and might just be the most underrated player in the state this year at 17.9 points a game as well as Brendan LaRose who’s averaging a double-double of 15.9 points, 12.0 rebounds a game on the year. This is as deep a unit as there is when they can get those two as well as Rhaven Brown and Noah Martinez going and they can honestly come out and maybe even win the whole thing.
Upset in the 1st round: No upset, but, 29th seeded Fort Morgan blew past Air Academy 65-48.
Key Game in the second round with a prediction:
Mead versus D’Evelyn
The game that stands out most and should be most fun to watch in the 2nd round is Mead and D’Evelyn as it’s two entertaining teams that are evenly matched battling it out to move on. Mead is 15-9 on the year as dynamic duo Derek Edwards and Jax Wilke have carried the load for the team and showed up in the scoring column as well as being the teams two best rebounders. They get it done and are a consistent force for the squad and this unit will lean on those two again if they plan on beating a pretty good D’Evelyn squad. D’evelyn counters with a senior who’s putting up some of the best numbers in the state in Charles Dinegar (23.8 points, 10.1 rebounds a game) while also averaging just over two steals and two blocks a game. His senior year has been phenomenal although the results of the team haven’t been as well as the team expected. Cole Clifton has also been playing well as he averages 15.7 points, 6.1 rebounds a game and two great duo forces will go at it causing for a great atmosphere.
Key players to watch for out of this region: Luke Johnson, Dallas Dye, Charles Dinegar, Derek Edwards, Jax Wilke, Brendan LaRose, Trey McBride, Grayson Garver, Jason Levy, Javonte Johnson, Luke Martin, Jake Wiersema, Kirk Relford, Tyler Mcginnis, Brayden Blick, Mac Riniker