Games to watch this upcoming week
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Fun slate of games. Here is what we have as the games of the week. Monday Green Mountain v. D’Evelyn This is a battle between two teams at the exact same place at 5-2 and is looking to form an…
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Continue ReadingFun slate of games. Here is what we have as the games of the week.
Monday
Green Mountain v. D’Evelyn
This is a battle between two teams at the exact same place at 5-2 and is looking to form an identity and stick with it. D’Evelyn’s DJ Johnson DJ Johnson 6'3" | SF D'Evelyn | 2022 CO is an athletic wing that gets to his spots and makes teams pay as he uses his length and size inside. He is dangerous in transition and can start the break himself. He’s at 14.1 ppg, and with the help of Luke Kjellsen (10.6 ppg), they are the only two players averaging double-digits. They will need Troy Benko, Elijah Gusmus, and Bodhi Anderson to step up as Green Mountain is a physical team with teams and forces the tempo to their liking.
Green Mountain goes as Austin Peterson Austin Peterson 6'2" | CG Green Mountain | 2021 State CO goes, and the senior guard has been on a tear to begin the season. Peterson is at 17.7 points a game, which is amongst the top of the conference, and he has been getting it done in transition as he is not to be denied at the rim and stepping out and shooting the 3-ball at a 43% clip. He will show up; he just needs his teammates to follow his lead. Corbin Jantzer (9.9 ppg) and Darius Padilla (7.4 ppg) will be the X-factors. If they can get going offensively, this is a game that Green Mountain has a chance to win.
Expect this to be a hard-fought game that comes down to 4th quarter execution.
Tuesday
Douglas County v. Regis Jesuit
Douglas County plays up to their competition and attacks opposing teams with excellent guard play and with Jaeton Hackley Jaeton Hackley 5'11" | PG Douglas County | 2022 State CO as the team’s best player and do-it-all option at 19.9 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.6 rebounds a game you always feel as if you have a chance. This is a game where I expect him to show up in, but the Huskies ONLY have a chance to get help from others. Keegan Phillips Keegan Phillips 6'7" | SF Douglas County | 2021 State CO has started a bit slow but has seemed to start to find his footing but will have to look like the Keegan that showed up in the summer. Phillips was one of the summer darlings as he just came out and played, didn’t overthink things, and let the game come to him. Regis has a squad with decent size and an excellent wing, so this will be a battle where Douglas County needs those two plus AJ Jackson AJ Jackson 6'1" | CG Douglas County | 2022 State CO to knock down shots, take their individual matchups personally and fight.
Regis is loaded. That is a team that we were on heading into the season, and they have proved to be one of the top teams in the entire state as they have excellent guard play and appear to be a team that plays for one another. They can certainly score as they have four players averaging double-digits in Blakeley Stoughton Blakeley Stoughton 6'3" | SF Regis Jesuit | 2021 State CO (18.7 ppg), Michael Wolf Michael Wolf 6'0" | PG Regis Jesuit | 2021 State CO (15.8 ppg), Kyle Sandler Kyle Sandler 6'7" | SF Hargrave Military Academy | 2022 State CO (15.5 ppg) and Alonzo Paul Alonzo Paul 5'8" | PG Regis Jesuit | 2021 State CO (12.3 ppg). The Raiders ability to shoot the ball and attack and are a team that scores with ease. There is no drop off after their top two players, and on any night, you will get a new top scorer. Unsure how you take anything away from the Raiders as they have the speed and size to dominate in man-to-man and don’t dare zone them. Just hope that they miss shots.
Wednesday
Mead v. Windsor
Mead’s big streak is currently on, which is the second-longest streak in the state, might finally have a chance to fall, and what a battle it will be. The No.1 team in 4A v. the No.2 team in 4A and maybe a preview at the state championship.
Mead is a team that is building something special over there, and with their stars being underclassman is set up for now and the future. They are led by speedy sharpshooter Elijah Knudsen Elijah Knudsen 5'10" | CG Mead | 2022 State CO who has pushed his points up to 17.2 ppg (a team-high) while also progressing as a point guard with range. James Shiers James Shiers 7'1" | C Mead | 2022 State CO has been the biggest surprise of the early season. His game has jumped as he is at a near double-double of 15.8 points and 9.4 rebounds a game. If he can get himself going on the block, he is the X-factor that brings an element that Windsor does not have much of; size. Shiers is a skilled 7-footer with talent and is starting to step into his body. Nick Basson Nick Basson 6'2" | SG Mead | 2023 State CO (11.8 ppg), Will Tenore Will Tenore 6'4" | PF Mead | 2022 State CO (6.3 ppg) and Corby Tecu (4.0 ppg) will have to step up and be the difference as Windsor will try their best to take away Shiers and Knudsen. They have the ability to win the game for the Mavericks and be the most valuable players for the night.
Windsor has it all over there and is a tenacious bunch that pressures the opposing team for the entirety of the game. They have the advantage with guard play against essentially every team in the state regardless of class and with Jaden Kennis Jaden Kennis 6'3" | SG Windsor | 2021 State CO (19.5 ppg), Ben Hageman Ben Hageman 6'3" | PF Windsor | 2021 State CO (19.7 ppg & 7.0 rpg) leading the way, it becomes easy for players like Kobe Greene (14.3 ppg) and David Hageman David Hageman 6'3" | PG Windsor | 2023 State CO (12.0 ppg) to navigate with much of the attention on the Wizards best two players. They take advantage. Windsor knows how to win games, and although they do not have size, they are not a team that lacks in the toughness department. They force the issue, score in transition, and are a cohesive unit that takes away the team’s biggest strengths.
This will be the 4A game of the regular season.
Thursday
George Washington v. Chaparral
The Patriots are at the best part of their schedule and will be challenged all week. I appreciate the out of conference competition as it will prepare them for what they will see in the state championship. The Patriots have bad taste in their mouth after a double OT loss to in-conference rival Denver East and are ready to get back to playing.
GW is led by their senior trio of Jarmell Johnson Jarmell Johnson 6'3" | SG George Washington | 2021 State CO who is averaging 23 points a game, Trey Edmonds Trey Edmonds 6'8" | C George Washington | 2021 State CO (10.7 ppg) and Eddie Mcphee Eddie Mcphee 6'6" | SF Geore Washington | 2021 State CO (10.3 ppg). They also have a solid supporting cast with Kendale Johnson Kendale Johnson 6'5" | SF George Washington | 2021 State CO (8.8 ppg), Garret Brown (8.8 ppg) and a defensive duo of Cheick Kouyate Cheick Kouyate 6'2" | PG George Washington | 2021 State CO and Darrian Hammons Darrian Hammons 5'11" | PG George Washington | 2021 State CO that are ready to get after the Chaparral guards and this will be a game of balance.
The Wolverines have a very balanced group and the perfect inside-out balance led by junior big man Joel Speckman, averaging a double-double of 15.2 ppg and 10.0 rpg. He is the inside presence that cannot be denied at the rim and can put it on the floor and step out to open up the offense with Luke Williams Luke Williams 5'9" | CG Dsst Green Valley | 2022 State CO doing everything in between. Williams is a guard that has elevated his game with his switch to 5A and scores at will. He has a very mature game and a high IQ. He understands how to run the offense, deflect to the hot-man, and apply himself defensively. He’s the team leading scorer at 15.7 ppg, and this will be a game where he further proves himself as one of the top guards in the state. I am excited to see the trio of Speckman, Williams, and Braden Boley Braden Boley 6'3" | SF Chaparral | 2021 State CO in this one as they are a top-10 team going against another Top-10 team.
Expect fireworks.