Playoff Forecast: Chauncey Billups Region
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ThunderRidge Versus Air Academy J. Bilello Air Academy will have their hands full against a very large ThunderRidge team featuring Wake Forest commit Zach Keller Zach Keller 6'9" | PF ThunderRidge | 2022 State #81 Nation CO . ThunderRidge comes…
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Continue ReadingThunderRidge Versus Air Academy
Air Academy will have their hands full against a very large ThunderRidge team featuring Wake Forest commit Zach Keller Zach Keller 6'9" | PF ThunderRidge | 2022 State #81 Nation CO . ThunderRidge comes into tomorrow’s game averaging over five more rebounds per game at 34.7 versus Air Academy’s 29.4 per game. The top names from this team include the aforementioned Keller, as well as 6’7 senior wing Joey Bilello Joey Bilello 6'8" | SF Thunderridge | 2022 State CO and 2024 standout point guard Andrew Crawford Andrew Crawford 6'6" | CG ThunderRidge | 2024 State #88 Nation CO . The unique aspect to ThunderRidge’s success compared to other teams is their absolute size advantage, with Keller 6’10, Bilello 6’7, Crawford, 6’5, and Mike Karnisovas Mike Karnisovas 6'7" | SF ThunderRidge | 2022 State CO at 6’7. In complete contrast, Air Academy features a variety of perimeter focused guards and wings all of which are capable attacking off the dribble or spotting up from distance. While this matchup is hardly favorable to Air Academy, I wonder how they plan on deploying themselves against the powerful post work of Zach Keller Zach Keller 6'9" | PF ThunderRidge | 2022 State #81 Nation CO , possibly through a swarm of double teams to make the others work for shot attempts. Coming into the matchup ThunderRidge’s center Keller is averaging 15.0 points and 6.9 rebounds, their senior guard Jackson Brennan Jackson Brennan 6'3" | CG ThunderRidge | 2022 State CO 14.2 points, point guard Andrew Crawford Andrew Crawford 6'6" | CG ThunderRidge | 2024 State #88 Nation CO 10.8 points, and senior wing Joey Bilello Joey Bilello 6'8" | SF Thunderridge | 2022 State CO up to 12.3 points per contest. On the other end, you have a very balanced scoring output from Air Academy’s composition of guards and wings. Corbin Garver Corbin Garver 6'3" | CG Air Academy | 2023 State CO leads the team with 17.4 points, Grant Featherston Grant Featherston 6'5" | PF Air Academy | 2023 State CO at 12.4 points, and Finn Horsfall Finn Horsfall 6'4" Air Academy | 2023 CO adding a versatile dose of 12 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.6 steals. While it is obvious, the x-factor for Air Academy will be how quickly they can get Keller into foul trouble through charges and the occasional flop, given that ThunderRidge has a +126 rebound differential.
Rock Canyon Versus Mountain Vista
A more balanced matchup in terms of size, although Mountain Vista’s pace of play has potential to give them an edge. Vista features 6’7 junior forward, Caden Stevens Caden Stevens 6'8" | C Mountain Vista | 2023 CO , who leads them in points and rebounds. Following up Stevens is combo guard Bryson Linder with 11.6 points, point guard Henry Gamble Henry Gamble 6'1" | CG Mountain Vista | 2022 State CO with at 10.4, and 6’1 Nick Stone who has put up 7/3/4 with the Golden Eagles. On the other hand, Rock Canyon features multiple pesky scorers starting with point guard Gavin Hershberger Gavin Hershberger 5'10" Rock Canyon | 2023 CO with 14 points and 3.6 assists. An excellent complementary cast starting with playmaking 6’4 guard Chris Schlesinger Chris Schlesinger 6'5" | PF Rock Canyon | 2022 State CO with 12.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.6 assists, followed by small ball forward Braxton Jones Braxton Jones 6'6" | C Rock Canyon | 2022 CO at nearly 13/6. If you were to take away Vista’s high speed pace and cherry pick the scoring efficiency of both teams, you would be surprised that these teams are very similar to one another. From two point percentage, both contribute 56% of attempts, from three both shoot 32%, and from the free throw line 65% at Rock Canyon to 63% at Mountain Vista. If Rock Canyon can figure out how to slow down Vista, they have an excellent chance of moving forward. One area that Rock Canyon must focus on is the play of senior guard Chris Schlesinger Chris Schlesinger 6'5" | PF Rock Canyon | 2022 State CO , who does an excellent job attracting double teams. Given his size at 6’4, only a select few athletes can match with him from an athletic standpoint, but also am IQ standpoint. Either way, we will be getting an excellent showcase tomorrow evening.