Games of the week to conclude the regular season
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The playoffs are amongst us as we are looking at concluding a wild season. Most teams have a long week ahead of them, with 3-4 games this week to prepare for the playoffs. Here are a few games to watch…
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Continue ReadingThe playoffs are amongst us as we are looking at concluding a wild season. Most teams have a long week ahead of them, with 3-4 games this week to prepare for the playoffs. Here are a few games to watch with playoff implications.
Monday
ThunderRidge v. George Washington
T-Ridge faces off against GW for the second time this year and looks to avenge their first loss of the season.
The Grizzlies come into this game in better shape as the first time the two faced off against eachother ThunderRidge was missing their starting point guard, Garret Arnold in the game which changed up their play style completely. He returns to action and will provide comfort and confidence as he is one of the top guards in the state. The Grizzlies will however be without one of the best players in the 2022 class in Zach Keller Zach Keller 6'9" | PF ThunderRidge | 2022 State #81 Nation CO which will force players like Nolan Marold Nolan Marold 6'7" | C Thunderridge | 2021 State CO (13.7 ppg & 7.9 rpg), Joey Bilello Joey Bilello 6'8" | SF Thunderridge | 2022 State CO (12.6 ppg) and Jason Simental Jason Simental 6'3" | CG Thunderridge | 2021 State CO (13.0 ppg) to step up. Jackson Brennan Jackson Brennan 6'3" | CG ThunderRidge | 2022 State CO , JJ Williams JJ Williams 6'5" | SF Highlands Ranch | 2023 State CO and Mike Karnisovas Mike Karnisovas 6'7" | SF ThunderRidge | 2022 State CO will be X-factors and have to provide a spark if they plan to come out with a different outcome against a Patriots team that plays up to their competition.
On the George side of things, this is a group that plays with a chip on their shoulders. They have managed to cruise against bad teams and challenge top teams in the state. They have multiple wins against higher-ranked opponents, and with another win against ThunderRidge, will further showcase themselves as a title-contending team. GW has a complete squad with Jarmell Johnson Jarmell Johnson 6'3" | SG George Washington | 2021 State CO (20.6 ppg) leading the way. He scores from all three levels and has elevated his game and with Trey Edmonds Trey Edmonds 6'8" | C George Washington | 2021 State CO (11.1 & 7.3 ppg), Eddie Mcphee Eddie Mcphee 6'6" | SF Geore Washington | 2021 State CO (9.5 ppg) and Kendale Johnson Kendale Johnson 6'5" | SF George Washington | 2021 State CO (8.7 ppg) backing him then the Patriots always have a chance. I expect Coach Hammons to pull out the infamous press and trap the Grizzlies with one of the better defensive set of guards in the state.
This will be another fun one that comes down to the wire.
Tuesday
Windsor v. Longmont
This is a battle between the No.1 and No.2 teams in 4A, respectfully.
This is a game of opposites colliding as Longmont is a team that wants to go slow and have a methodical approach. They do not force shots and make sure everyone gets a touch before the shot goes up. The Trojans have been led by one of the most athletic forwards in the state, Eddie Kurjak Eddie Kurjak 6'8" | PF Longmont | 2021 State CO (18.5 ppg &7.4 rpg), who has been having a stellar season and upped his game. They feed the hot man, and he is not a player that forces shots up, so others get involved. Alongside him is junior combo-guard Keegan Patterson Keegan Patterson 6'0" | SG Longmont | 2022 State CO (14.3 ppg) and they make a powerful 1-2 punch.
Windsor is unique in the fact that they do not have a traditional big but have 6’2 wing Ben Hageman Ben Hageman 6'3" | PF Windsor | 2021 State CO (19.4 ppg & 7.3 rpg) leading the way. He is undersized but has the strength and ability to defend positions 1-5. Putting him at the 5 at times allows players like Jaden Kennis Jaden Kennis 6'3" | SG Windsor | 2021 State CO (18.4 ppg) and Kobe Greene Kobe Greene 6'2" | SG Windsor | 2021 State CO (13.9 ppg) to get out in the open floor and start breaks as well as giving a solid passer room to operate and find pay dirt. The Wizards are a team that can match up with anyone in the state and want to prove they are one of the teams that will be there when it is all said and done and have one more bump in the road.
The first team to 40 wins in a matchup like this.
Wednesday
Regis v. Mountain Vista
The Fairview v. Fossil Ridge game on this same day will be one to watch as it is a battle for the Front Range championship and is a game that you should flip back and forth to see, but the game that stands out for me as the game to watch is a battle between two teams in the Top-10.
Mountain Vista might have the strongest schedule I have seen since coming over and watching high school basketball. They have gone against almost every team in the Top-10 and teams that have made an appearance in the Top-10, and now they are up against a Top-3 team in Regis. Ben Bowen Ben Bowen 6'5" | CG Mountain Vista | 2021 State CO (19.2 ppg) has proven to be a top-3 player in the state, and the Wyoming commit has shown up big in every single game. He has dealt with double teams and any player in the state and trusted in teammates to convert and step up, and they have. He gets the best out of teammates and Henry Gamble Henry Gamble 6'1" | CG Mountain Vista | 2022 State CO (9.9 ppg) and Ty Strawbridge Ty Strawbridge 6'5" | SF Mountain Vista | 2021 State CO (9.0 ppg) have not let him down. They will have to step up even more if they want to beat a team that is ready for every counter they throw at them and have been solid all season long.
Regis is a team that has been dealing with injuries and players having to sit, and this is another game that they will not be at full strength. The Raiders will be without Kyle Sandler Kyle Sandler 6'7" | SF Hargrave Military Academy | 2022 State CO and Ty Bergman Ty Bergman 6'7" | PF Regis Jesuit | 2021 State CO who are arguably their best two-way players. That will leave Blakeley Stoughton Blakeley Stoughton 6'3" | SF Regis Jesuit | 2021 State CO (18.5 ppg) and Michael Wolf Michael Wolf 6'0" | PG Regis Jesuit | 2021 State CO (17.2 ppg) to step up even more and continue their offensive onslaught if they want a chance at winning. Guards Alonzo Paul Alonzo Paul 5'8" | PG Regis Jesuit | 2021 State CO and Tarea Fulcher Tarea Fulcher 5'11" | PG Regis Jesuit | 2023 State CO will put the teams in positions to win and get everyone involved, and this will take a complete team effort if they plan on beating a Golden Eagles team that shows that they are going to give a team their best shot no matter what.