Games of the Week: Jan 28th – Feb 1st
Monday Wheat Ridge vs. Bear Creek Wheat Ridge is one of the best fourth quarter teams in the state as they just seem to get it going when it matters most. They are led by Julian Claussen at 15.8 points…
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Wheat Ridge vs. Bear Creek
Wheat Ridge is one of the best fourth quarter teams in the state as they just seem to get it going when it matters most. They are led by Julian Claussen at 15.8 points a game and also have solid big men. Zeke Van tuyl has also made his mark inside as he is averaging 7.6 rebounds a game and is a force down low that is aggressive eon the boards. Blair McVicker is up to 5.2 assists a game and this is a balanced unit that will be up against another group that plays well together. Bear Creek is having a surprising year. They do not wow you with their fast pace but they do have a duo that plays together and will have to have other players step up as well. Their leading scorer is Grant Karger (14.7 ppg) who also leads the team in rebounds as well. They also have Jayden Martinez (12.7 pts, 3.0 ast) a game helping carry the load. This team gets it done defensively but if they want to win a game of this magnitude it will have to be done with finding someone else to contribute.
Tuesday
Lincoln vs. Denver East
This is a true test for Lincoln to see exactly where they are as they are up against a strong Denver Prep League team that has been up and down to begin the season. But make no mistake about it, East will be ready for this one. Kwane Marble is one of the top players in the state and the University of Wyoming commit is putting up numbers. He is up to 20.8 points a game and will see that increase as he runs through the prep league. He can shoot it, distribute and get to the rim at will and with Clayton-Finley-Ponds on the boards as well as newcomer RaShawn Wilson (4.9 ast, 3.7 spg) now in the fold and looking comfortable East will be looking to close out the season on a high note and that means winning a game against a DPL team that is on the rise.
Lincoln has it all. Good guard play in Jahuale Veazy and Ty Foster. They have a solid wing in TJ Bamba who is now starting to come into his own but what really separates them is their play down low. They have two of the most capable big men in the state in Kwaheem Brown and James Felton. Felton is having an incredible year and is definitely in the running of most improved player in the state. He is up to 17.6 points and 7.3 rebounds a game and will be the difference maker in the game if Lincoln is to win this one. Expect big numbers from him as East does not have anybody that can defend him but for Marble to run it back on the opposite end. Fireworks in this one.
Chaparral vs. Regis
This is going to be a battle for not only two of the most talented backcourts as it will be Kobe Sanders, Joseph Dalton and Tanner Giles against Payton Egloff and Jamil Safieddine but a good one to see down low. For the Raiders it is Matt Wheelock and Daniel Carr who will be trying to get their way and control things. Daniel Carr is one of the players we had as a dark horse candidate for Mr. Basketball and he has not let us down as he is putting up 20 points a game with 11.4 rebounds to go along with it. He owns the mid-range and has great size where he shoots over defenders. He is coming off of a 22 and 14 game against Mullen where he had everything going and will have to keep that up here against the top team in the state. Junior big man Dalton Waldron has emerged as a capable big man willing to alter the game defensively and on the boards and Bryce Matthews poses a great threat down low and this game is setting up to be a tight one where both teams will just go back and forth all night in an anticipated high scoring affair.
Colorado Springs Christian vs. Vanguard
For Vanguard, its simple; give the ball to Seth Fuqua. It has been the remedy for years and why Vanguard has again found themselves in the Top-10 in the state again. He can score the basketball from anywhere on the court and is a mismatch each time out. He gets going and does not slow down and is a high IQ player that makes the right play with the ball in his hands and it has been shown as he is up to 23 points a game — again. Around him there has been more than previous years as Dominique Clifford has truly put on a show in his junior season. He is at 20 points a game and also is up to 11.6 rebounds a game, both amongst the top in the state. He has been dunking the ball and showing off his athleticism and as long as both of them are going it is going to be difficult to stop this squad.
CSC can score the ball just as well. They get it done with a trio of Brandon Pitt (18.5 points) Kolby Walker (16.9 points) and sophomore Caleb Stockton who is at 13.3 points a game to round off their double-digit scorers. The Lions are going to push it at you all night and are capable of putting up some big numbers as they have multiple guys that excel at various things. They are ready for this challenge of trying to slow down Fuqua and the Coursers and with a win can pad their RPI and get a better chance in the playoffs. Defense is the name of the game here and whoever has the highest scorer on the night on their team will most likely be the victors. My prediction: Fuqua for 30.
Friday
Grandview vs. Smoky Hill
This one is going to be a good game as it is two Centennial league teams that already have a feel for each other. It was Grandview that won the last time these two faced each other by a convincing 23 points. Dayne Prim and Caleb McGill made their mark in the game with their size. Prim really had it going inside as he worked the middle and created a mismatch, he also got out in the open court and put on a show with multiple dunks. McGill’s size makes it difficult for all teams and when you have players like Davon Walker and Levi Dombro making the right plays, taking care of the ball and gashing at the defense all night your line of defense tends to break expect more of that on Friday. For Smoky it is simple, show up. Last time they faced off the moment just seemed too big for their young players. Now with more comfortability and a better understanding of what should be done and also on their home court I expect it to be a closer game. We already know Kenny Foster is going to show up as he is ready for every single game, but Quinten Rock must prove why he is considered as one of the top guards in the entire state and Jalen Weaver and Jordan Whitaker must also prove why they are next up. I expect a closer game full of highlights and this is what I have as the game of the week.