Previewing Sweet 16 match ups in the Ron Vlasin Region
The season is dwindling as we are already in the Sweet 16. There are some excellent matchups with some pretty balanced teams set to play on Wednesday. Let’s take a look at the regions and a breakdown of each matchup…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe season is dwindling as we are already in the Sweet 16. There are some excellent matchups with some pretty balanced teams set to play on Wednesday. Let’s take a look at the regions and a breakdown of each matchup in the 4A state playoffs.
No.1 Mead v. No.16 Silver Creek
Last up, we have the No.1 team in all of 4A in Mead, who lost the first game of the season and then went on a warpath. This team is an interesting bunch as they have so many individual players that are truly capable of impacting the game, but when they are all working as one, they are unstoppable. When Mead is getting everyone involved and passing the ball, there are not many teams that can hang with them, so it depends on which side shows up. The name that has been getting plenty of attention this year is Senior wing Trey Ward Trey Ward 6'2" | CG Mead | 2020 State CO , as he is an ultra-athletic guard that has his fair share of poster dunks this season. The leader of the team is averaging 14.6 points a game and is a versatile defender that teams have trouble slowing down. Alongside him are senior guards Will Maher Will Maher 5'10" | CG Mead | 2020 State CO (14.6 ppg) and Nick Jacobs Nick Jacobs 6'1" | CG Mead | 2020 State CO (9.9 ppg). Maher is one of the better passing guards in the state and is a marksman from deep, which gives you the Steve Nash-like feel. When focused, he is dishing it off to open guys and getting them involved or finding a place to spot up and let it fly. Jacobs is a hard-nosed defender that pushes the pace each time out, and you know you’re going to get a hard worker. He alters the game in many ways and is a consistent source of energy. And while the upperclassmen are solid, the future for Mead looks bright as they have two players worth watching. James Shiers James Shiers 7'1" | C Mead | 2022 State CO has the size and upside that he will grow into to become even better. The older players have taken him under their wing, and he is improving each game as Elijah Knudsen Elijah Knudsen 5'10" | CG Mead | 2022 State CO plays above his size and is not afraid of the moment. The sophomore sharpshooter finished with 14 points in the Mavericks second-round win and will be a player that Mead uses to open the defense up. Mead is No.1 for a reason with depth and players that can go off at any moment.
Silver Creek knows that they are the underdogs but have a resilient group that will surely be up for the task. The Raptors have won eight straight games coming into the Sweet 16 and plan on pulling off of the upset. Senior guard Andrew Duquette is as tough as nails and will not go down without a fight. Duquette is a two-way guard averaging 18.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.7 steals a game, and slowing him down will be the entire game-plan. It does not matter; he will still do whatever it is to give his team a fighters chance. Two players I am excited to see how they do in such a big game are sophomores Andrew Scott Andrew Scott 6'4" | SG Silver Creek | 2022 State CO (9.1 ppg) and Tanner Call (7.6 ppg) as they are two players that own the boards and play well off of each other. Both players are skilled with size, which creates a three-headed bigger backcourt trio that causes issues for opposing teams. Taking care of the basketball, not being rattled when Mead gets momentum, and owning the glass is how Silver Creek can pull the upset. This has the feeling of a closer than expected game.
No.25 Lincoln v. No. 9 Montrose
Lincoln is a team that continues to show that having star players surrounded by players that star in their role is a recipe for success. The Lancers are led by Washington State commit TJ Bamba TJ Bamba 6'5" | CG Lincoln | 2020 State #241 Nation CO that is coming off of a game against arguably the best player in the entire state where Bamba dominated in. Bamba finished with 23 points and 15 rebounds in Lincoln’s “upset” over Cheyenne Mountain. The 6’5 wing dropped down to the big man spot, and although he was in foul trouble throughout the game showed his Division I versatility. Unsigned senior guard Ty Foster Ty Foster 6'1" | PG Lincoln | 2020 State CO had arguably his best game of the season. He finished with 18 points and his demeanor throughout the game is a reason that the Lancers are still playing. Foster played under control despite seeing double teams and impacted the game on both ends of the floor. He had four steals in the game and brought intensity. While both of those players played well a player to also recognize was guard Johnathan Kayumba. His defense on the state’s best scorer was incredible and is also why Lincoln won.
Sophomore forward Luke Hutto is already a captain in his second year on varsity. His stats back him up as he had led Montrose in every single way. Hutto is a traditional big man that moves well, has soft touch around the rim and excellent footwork. Montrose will make it a point to get him going early on and go from there. Senior guard Sean Alex runs the offense and keeps his team in games mentally. Alex calms the storm and can slow down runs with counters of his own. He is putting up 12.3 points a game and is also getting a few steals in the open court as well. The matchup of Hutto and Alex versus Foster and Bamba is one to watch and should be highly entertaining.