Five Takeaways: Chaparral versus Cherry Creek
Chaparral is having a sensational year and are looking to bring it all home. They put it altogether in a win over Cherry Creek in the “Great 8” and want to ride that wave into the “Final 4.” Unfinished business…
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Continue ReadingChaparral is having a sensational year and are looking to bring it all home. They put it altogether in a win over Cherry Creek in the “Great 8” and want to ride that wave into the “Final 4.”
Unfinished business
It looks as if Chaparral have picked up the “Unfinished business” mantra this year after having a year where it looked as if they were going to win it last season but fell to eventual state champs, Grandview last season.
Along the way they have been a very stout bunch that have picked up some unorthodox losses on the year but are exactly where they want to be. There was the loss to Timpview (Utah) in the Tarkanian Classic who had a 16-10 season in their respective conference, a loss to 4A powerhouse Lewis-Palmer who placed their bid as the top team in the state with the win and are still undefeated and also a loss to rivals Legend high school.
Chaparral has had an up and down season but have put it together when it has mattered most and are now in the predicament of winning it all. There are just two wins that separate them from being state champions and with the way that they have been playing they just have to continue riding their wave. They have a very talented bunch and coach that is committed to winning and it will be quite the story if they can bring a state championship back.
Bryce Matthews set the tone
For a player that will play baseball at the next level at the University of Arkansas it goes on to show you the type athlete that he is.
This division I athlete is not only one of the top baseball products in the state but top big man and led his team to the No. 1 seed in the state. He showed exactly what he is capable of on the gridiron on Saturday where he put up a team-high 20 points and had eight rebounds to go with it.
Matthews was wheeling and dealing on Saturday which opened things up for the rest of the team to operate. He was able to get to his spots and capitalize and his 20 points carried the way. On the defensive end he was able to alter shots at the rim forcing the Bruins to settle with long jump shots and cleaned up the glass. He is a player that has great strength and feel around the rim and he gets after it which kept the Creek defense honest. He went up after grabbing rebounds and applied pressure on the Bruins big men all game.
Chaparral feel as if they have unsettled business and behind the solid play of their big man is where they will separate themselves. They will need a big game from him next go around and I am sure he is up for the challenge.
Fourth quarter test
Chaparral was tested throughout the entire contest but went on a few runs as they are one of the most experienced teams in the state and have plenty to prove. As they went into the fourth quarter and established a strong enough lead it looked as if it was going to be over for the Bruins but they truly refuse to quit and got all the way within three points.
Myles Purchase and Hammond kept Cherry Creek in the game hitting some big shots and stepping up on defense but Tanner Giles hit a lay-up, Matthews big second half and Kobe Sanders remained poised and calm even though times were hectic.
Although it was an up and down game for Tizell Lewis when the team needed him most he delivered with some key defensive plays including some big-time rebounds and deflections that led to his game sealing layup as time expired.
Cherry Creek proved that they are a team to keep a watch on and will surely be great for years to come but Chaparral showed their experience. Chaparral is looking like the favorite and with the way that they closed out the fourth quarter despite not having the momentum they proved that they are ready for whatever challenges come their way.
Cherry Creek Future
What is scary about Cherry Creek is the bulk of their production come from the underclassmen. Cherry Creek has a very balanced team that is forced to be battle tested coming out of the Centennial league. This was a team that took plenty of losses this season but still matched up with the top teams in the state and are a year or two out of being No. 1 overall. Jake LeFebre was their only senior on the team that played meaningful minutes and he had a solid game on his way out.
Just thinking about that should have this team ready to get another crack at it. Sebastian Cole will be a Senior next year and will most likely have his best overall year leading the team and with Myles Purchase and Julian Hammond also a year older this has the makings of a team set up for sustained success. This guard trio put on quite the show in the game as they brought the pressure all game long against the top team in the state. Cole found creases in the defense and Hammond and Purchase made them pay from both deep and inside the paint. They stayed resilient all game long and fought until the very end and this is a group that I am excited to see in the future.
Up Next for Chaparral
These are two of the top teams in the state that are pretty familiar witch each other as they have already gone up against each other twice. Chaparral already beat them twice on the season but with Ortiz being one of the best coaches in the state it is going to be extremely difficult for a third time for all of the marbles.
Thundderidge is a team that has great size and have been playing at their best. They are really comfortable at the Coliseum and just put together maybe the most complete game of the entire weekend.
Chaparral will have to do exactly what they did both other games against them. Win the big man battle while limiting the guards from getting loose. It is a Coliseum game so shots will not fall as they typically do so it is going to be important to establish an inside game. Both have solid big men groups that will go after it and I am expecting this one to be their closest game yet.