Final Four Preview: Class 4A
And then there were four. The Class 4A Final Four begins Friday at Coors Events Center in Boulder, with four talented and worthy teams continuing their pursuit of the ultimate prize: the shiny gold ball handed to the state champions.…
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Continue ReadingAnd then there were four.
The Class 4A Final Four begins Friday at Coors Events Center in Boulder, with four talented and worthy teams continuing their pursuit of the ultimate prize: the shiny gold ball handed to the state champions.
Below we break down both games, with players to watch and predictions:
Pueblo West (23-3) vs. Vista Ridge (20-6), 4 p.m.
Pueblo West earned its way into the classification’s top seed by the home stretch of the season and the Cyclones have looked the part through three impressive postseason victories. Vista Ridge, placed as a No. 3 seed to begin the tournament, is peaking at the right time after an upset of top-seeded Lewis-Palmer.
Both programs are led by superlative junior talents. West’s 6-2 sharpshooter David Simental has been one of the state’s leading scorers all season and has the ability to heat up as quickly as any player in the state. He can create his own shot off the dribble and has a great pull-up game in transition. Hoops fans who haven’t gotten down to see him in Pueblo this season will be in for a treat. Same goes for Ridge’s Hunter Maldonado, Ridge’s 6-5 wing who has perhaps the tournaments best player. Maldonado, who surged over the summer with a talented Colorado Miners 16U squad, can score inside and out, has been a monster on the glass and has been disruptive on the glass. These two standouts will be fun to watch.
Players to Watch
Pueblo West
Kenny Tack, 6-5 junior forward
Tack has been a solid scorer all season, averaging 13.3 points per game while providing a strong element of toughness for the Cyclones. Tack showed strong athleticism at our combine in September, and he can knock down outside shots.
Nieyeme Smyer-Williams, 5-10 sophomore point guard
The young guard has done a fine job running the offense this season, and he’s not afraid to seek offense for himself, averaging nearly 12 points per game.
Vista Ridge
Noah Beatty, 5-10 junior guard
Beatty has been a strong backcourt presence for Ridge on both sides of the ball. He’s averaged 10.3 points per game during his team’s 3-0 start in the postseason while shooting 5-of-12 from 3-point range.
Jake Goggin, 6-2 senior forward
Noggin has brought solid leadership all season, and his 16 points in a first-round victory over Pueblo Central displayed his offensive capability. For the season he has averaged 6.7 points and five rebounds per game.
Prediction: Pueblo West
Longmont (25-1) vs. Valor Christian (24-2), 5:30 p.m.
It doesn’t get much more fun than this matchup. Two Mr. Colorado Basketball candidates. Only three losses between the two teams. Two great coaching staffs. Can we fast forward tip-off to now?
This game starts with a battle of two of the state’s very best players, a pair of 6-5 wings in Longmont senior Justinian Jessup and Valor Christian junior Jalen Sanders, both of whom made our list of four finalists for our player of the year award.
While both players have great ability to score the basketball, it is their ability to affect the game in so many ways that makes them special. Both are great passers, strong and lengthy defenders, have great vision in the opener floor and aren’t afraid to battle inside. Both will be Division I players, and it will be highly entertaining to see the two do battle on Friday.
But these teams didn’t get this far with only one star, of course. Both teams have deep and talented rosters, and it will likely be the team that finds the greatest support from its complementary players that finds a way to advance to a state title game.
Players to Watch
Longmont
Kolton Bachman, 6-1 senior guard
As tough has they come, Bachman’s ability to penetrate causes havoc, and he’s a relentless defender.
Kevin Mitchell, 6-3 senior guard/forward
Mitchell has been a huge component to Longmont’s giant success these past two years. He averages 9.5 points and 3.8 rebounds per game is strong on the perimeter.
Cooper Rothe, 6-0 senior guard
The standout football player isn’t a big-time scorer, but he distributes the ball very well and is another key component to the Trojans’ harassing defense.
Valor Christian
Dylan McCaffrey, 6-5 junior forward
The Michigan-bound quarterback would likely also have the talent to play hoops at a Division I program. He brings football toughness to the court and has impressive skill sets for a two-sport athlete. He’s also a great athlete and no stranger to big-game pressure.
Kayle Knuckles, 6-6 junior forward
Knuckles has been one of the state’s most improved players. He averages nearly a double-double per game and will be key to limiting Longmont’s penetration inside.
Jeremy Randle, 6-2 sophomore guard
Provides great athleticism and scoring punch with his ability to get to the rim.
Austin Remus, 6-0 junior guard
Great ball-handler who has surged as a court general under first-year coach Troy Pachner.
Prediction: Longmont