Games of the Week: Jan. 7th – 13th
Monday GW vs. Douglas County George Washington is not having the type of year that they are capable of or what we are accustomed to and if there is any spot that they must fight back to save the season…
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GW vs. Douglas County
George Washington is not having the type of year that they are capable of or what we are accustomed to and if there is any spot that they must fight back to save the season it is in this game. GW has fallen to a 4-7 record and is in jeopardy of missing the tournament if they do not do something and fast. They are led by super sophomore Kendale Johnson (16.1 points) and Senior point guard Joe Nelson (13 points, 2.7 apg) Another player that has really stood out and raised his stock is Malik Patton who is at 9.3 points and 8.1 rebounds a game. This dynamic trio will have to be leaned on heavily moving forward and their size should be enough to hold off a feisty Douglas County squad.
Douglas County is 7-4 on the season and is coming out of what looks to be the strongest conference in the state this year. They are Senior Branden Temple who is having one of the most improved seasons of any player in the state at 17.6 points and 8.6 rebounds a game and also point guard TJ Boykins who is 16.9 points and 5.6 assists per game. Quincy Burland (12.1 ppg) has also been the X-factor for this team and it is a unit that once they get going is hard to stop. Temple is a double-double whose athletic ability separates him from most in the state and willingness to go inside and compete will have him playing at the next level. He plays above the rim and is very versatile which has allowed Boykins to up his game. Boykins is a pure-point guard that is now finishing at the rim and beating players off the dribble and is putting together a career year. The battle against Nelson will be one of the best guard battles of the week.
Wednesday
Arvada West vs. Ralston Valley
If it were not for the T-Ridge vs. Rock Canyon game on Friday this would be the game of the week as it has two teams that have completely shocked to begin the year. Arvada West is 8-1 on the year as Josh Rogers has upped his game to the next level and looks to be one of the best scorers in the state. He shoots it, he finishes at the rim, he gets others involved and is one of the state’s best playmakers as well. Alongside him has been Oliver Lindeblad (7.6 rebounds a game) that have made Arvada West one of the hottest teams heading into the new year and this is a statement game that can put them over the top if these two shows up.
Ralston Valley has also been a pleasant surprise this year with Senior Jordan Stratch (15.6 points and 8.3 rebounds a game) being one of the biggest stock boosters to start the year. Junior Caden Gigstad (13.2 points, 5.2 rebs) and Caleb Rillos (10.5 points, 6.7 rebs) have also stepped up and made this one of the deepest rosters in the state as any night a different player can step up and lead the team. This is a team that plays together and is one of the best rebounding teams in the state that limit second chance opportunities for the other team. They are undefeated at home and are looking to keep it that way against a streaking Arvada West team. This will be one to pay attention to as I expect a close finish.
Thursday
Pine Creek vs. Pueblo West
Pine Creek is off to an excellent 7-1 start and are looking to get back into their winning ways after falling to Fountain-Fort Carson. Grant Wilkinson has been the team’s best player as he has been a stat stuffer putting up 16.8 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and nearly four steals a game. Those numbers rank amongst the top in the state and has done it with help from juniors Peyton Westfall and Max Lofy. This is a team that is fundamentally sound and plays team ball. They compete on boths ends of the court and takes advantage of mismatches but will have their hands full with a Pueblo West team that can flat out play. Junior guard Taylor Harris is the catalyst for this team and is playing exceptional basketball right now and came into the season as one of the most intriguing players in the state as he has the ability to affect the game in multiple ways. As great of a scorer as he is his best characteristic is his playmaking. He is not super-athletic but has slithery moves that catches defenses off balance. He finds the open man and is a player that can finish both inside and out. He has a nonstop motor and also gets on the rebounds as well as you can see with his 12.8 pts, 4.6 ast and 6.2 rebs a game. He has played well with great contributions from Alec Cash and Julian Lucero. I expect for this Arvada West team to really show up in this one and put the state on notice.
Friday
Thunder Ridge vs. Rock Canyon
This is the feature game of the week as it has two of the top teams that come into the game with identical records at 10-2 on the season. For Thunder Ridge it has been a by committee approach as not many teams in the state does it like T-Ridge. They are tough, they are deep, well coached and prepared for every situation. Austin Holt has been incredible this year in leading the team with 11.9 points and 5.7 rebounds a game. Alongside him has been Bailey Verk at 9.6 points and 5.5 rebounds a game and Kevin Sax at 9 points and 7.1 rebounds a game which has them as one of the best big man groups that the state has to offer. Underclassmen Nolan Marold and Garrett Arnold have also contributed and this group is set up to win now and have a bright future as well. Look for them to find flaws in Rock Canyon’s steel tight armor and attack them from the inside-out all night.
Rock Canyon is one of the strongest defensive teams. It starts up front with Jaylen Eikenberg (14.3 points, 2.3 steals) stopping the opposing team’s best player defensively and then putting it together on the opposite end as well. He is playing well alongside Grant Figueroa (12.3 pts, 9.2 rebs) a game who will almost certainly finish the year averaging a double-double as he has excelled downlow. Grant is a candidate for most improved player in the state and has had a new sense of taking over this year. Junior, Jalen Ashley is also a capable scorer that can get it going and while I expect this to be a slow paced and low scoring game I expect it to stay close in its entirety.