5A Sweet 16 Preview: Larry Farmer Region
The action is intensifying in the 5A state tournament, with the Sweet 16 set to tip off Wednesday night. There are heavyweights still chasing the ultimate prize, with all four top seeds advancing to within a game of the Elite…
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Continue ReadingThe action is intensifying in the 5A state tournament, with the Sweet 16 set to tip off Wednesday night. There are heavyweights still chasing the ultimate prize, with all four top seeds advancing to within a game of the Elite 8.
There are also a couple 20-plus seeds who have reached this stage with no designs on slowing down. Will Wednesday bring us more upsets? Who will shine for their team on the biggest stage so far this season? Who is headed to the Denver Coliseum for what they hope will be three more games?
We’re about to find out the answers to those questions. For now, let’s preview the action heading into this week’s big showdowns:
5A Larry Farmer Region
No. 17 Vista Ridge (19-6) at No. 1 Eaglecrest (20-4), 7 p.m.
The Scoop: Eaglecrest didn’t have an easy test out of the gate Saturday in a matchup with a Rangeview team that had far more dangerous talent than its No. 32 seed would suggest. The Raiders kept it tight with a tooth-and-nail second quarter, but Eaglecrest, paced by Colbey Ross and his 17 points, peeled away after that. Vista Ridge caught fire from the 3-point line in its win on the road at Lakewood on Saturday, getting contributions on that front from throughout the lineup. Five different Wolves combined to hit nine 3-pointers. That success was the effort of crisp ball movement, with players ready to release right at the catch. Ridge star Hunter Maldonado has been key in that regard. It was common Saturday to hear him encouraging his teammates to shoot their shot when they were open. Still, it was Maldonado who scored the last 14 points for Ridge to carry the Wolves into the Sweet 16. He’s one of the best closers in the state.
Matchup To Watch: Vista Ridge senior Hunter Maldonado vs. Eaglecrest senior Colbey Ross. You can’t ask for much more than two Division-I bound players (Maldonado, Wyoming; Ross, Pepperdine) squaring off with so much on the line. Of course, these players bring different attributes to the table. Maldonado was at his versatile best Saturday, setting the tone with his relentless energy, crashing the boards and simply making winning plays for his team. The 6-5 Maldonado, who can play and defend multiple positions on the court, has continued to expand his skill set. His mid-range jumper was smooth against Lakewood, and he turned defense into offense by picking off a pass at half court and zooming in for a momentum-grabbing dunk. The challenge that Maldonado presents is there’s no one way to stop him because he finds multiple ways to contribute.
"The excitement level is high. It's always great to get a win at an opponent's place." @therealhunter24 leads the way with 22 points. pic.twitter.com/Dx28lZx2iU
— Prep Hoops Colorado (@PrepHoopsCO) February 26, 2017
In Ross, Eaglecrest has a gamer eager to end his stellar career with the only thing that has a eluded him to this point — a state championship. The Raptors were rely on their leader, who is often at his best when the game is on the line. Ross has greatly improved his jump shot this season. That has made him even more dangerous because if you play him to close on that shot, which defenses are now forced to do at times, his instinctual nature as a penetrator allow him to feel for and draw contact, which allows him to wear out a path to the free throw line. He’s even more effective with the skill as games wear on.
X-Factors: Tristan Pratt, Vista Ridge; Victor Garnes, Eaglecrest. Pratt is a high-energy, athletic forward whose motor never seems to stop. He came up with numerous big plays against Lakewood because of it. Garnes is an underrated shooter who has a knack for knocking down big-time shots.
Vista Ridge Wins If: The Wolves can shoot effectively from long range. They don’t necessarily need to tally double-digit treys, but if his teammates are making themselves sizable threats from long range, it will open space for Maldonado, and we know how dangerous he can be when he has that. Ridge got great production Saturday from perimeter players like Julius Dowell and Eric Hooks, and they’ll need more that come Wednesday to pull the upset.
Eaglecrest Wins If: The Raptors can get strong production from its veteran front court. Another important aspect of Ridge’s win Saturday was the ability of Maldonado, 6-5 sophomore Tristan Pratt and 6-6 sophomore Micah Hilts won the battle inside, limiting talented 6-7 Lakewood forward Jacob Storey. Eaglecrest seniors Josh Walton and Ikenna Ozor have been on this stage before, and they need to match the energy of the young Wolves.
Moving On: This will be a much tighter game than the seeds might indicate, but in the end Ross and the rowdy Eaglecrest crowd make the difference and propel the Raptors to the Elite 8.
No. 9 Denver East (17-7) at No. 8 Smoky Hill (16-8), 7 p.m.
The Scoop: If you any designs of catching this game chock-full of future Division I players, you better get to Smoky Hill earlier. The school had to turn nearly 500 fans way from a game against Eaglecrest during the regular season. Now, the Buffs and their fans get to show what they can do in the playoffs against one of the state’s powerhouse programs.
Both of these teams seem to have found themselves in recent weeks. Smoky Hill, which has already won four times as many games as it did a season ago, suffered through a five-game losing streak at the end of January and into February, with nearly every one of those games decided in the closing minutes. Since then, the Buffs have gotten back to their principles of crisply moving the basketball and getting everyone involved. The result has been a relentless, free-flowing offensive attack that has led to a five-game winning streak, with an average margin of more than 20 points per game. That included a 76-52 rout of Highlands Ranch in the second round Saturday.
Some highlights from @SmokyHillHoops' victory over Highlands Ranch: pic.twitter.com/r8B2u5pxDv
— Prep Hoops Colorado (@PrepHoopsCO) February 26, 2017
East has ridden the breakout play of junior Daylen Kountz to a string of three wins in their last four games, with the only loss in that stretch coming 99-96 in overtime against No. 3 seed George Washington. Kountz has carried the Angels on his back with his prolific scoring ability, hurting teams from inside and out. He’s simply risen his game to another level, recently landing at No. 113 nationally in the 2018 class in the Prep Hoops rankings. He’s a force, and the Angels are playing tough, quick defense in support of their star.
Matchup To Watch: East sophomore Assane Diouf vs. Smoky Hill forwards Will Becker and John Harge. Diouf, East’s massive 7-1 center, made his presence felt in East’s first-round win over Fossil Ridge, closing off the paint while establishing an early offensive rhythm. He’s in for a much stiffer test against the top big man duo in the state. Becker and Harge, both 6-8, can score from the perimeter, opening up lanes to attack for Smoky Hill’s talented stable of guards, led by Kenny Foster. There is no camping in the lane against these two, who are both, particularly Becker, alley-oops waiting to happen.
X-Factors: Joe Abiakam, Denver East; Kyle Cabs, Smoky Hill. Both are imperative to their teams’ perimeter defense.
Denver East Wins If: They can force Smoky Hill to be a jump shooting team. The caveat, of course, would be that Hill would not only need to be settling for jump shots but missing them. Freshman Quentin Rock leads a group that can heat up in a hurry from long range. Still, the Buffs are at their best when they are moving the ball, cutting and sharing. Limiting the action they get going toward the basket is a tall task, but it’s a challenge the Angels will have to meet if they hope to advance.
Smoky Hill Wins If: They can keep Kountz from exploding. Limiting a guy who has gone off for nearly 80 points in his last two games won’t be easy. The Buffs have found success defending a team’s top scorer this season. Such was the case when they kept Colbey Ross quiet in their win over top-ranked Eaglecrest earlier this month. Still, Kountz is a different cat. It will take everything Hill has to slow him down.
Moving On: The Buffs are playing their best basketball of the season, and their depth and home-court edge wins out, setting up an enticing third meeting with Eaglecrest for a chance to advance to the Final Four.