Down The Stretch: Denver Public League
As we head into the final week of the season, we are looking at the leagues whose championships have yet to be decided while trying to paint the picture of what could play out. Up first: Denver Public League Who…
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Continue ReadingAs we head into the final week of the season, we are looking at the leagues whose championships have yet to be decided while trying to paint the picture of what could play out.
Up first:
Denver Public League
Who Can Still Win It: George Washington and Denver East.
Biggest Game(s) That Will Decide It: The two title candidates will meet in what will almost certainly be a winner-take-all game at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Thunderdome.
What To Expect: How about a jam-packed gym for starters? This should be one of the most electric games of the season. If G-Dub and East take care of business against Denver North and Denver West, respectively, earlier in the week, the two will meet Saturday with matching 7-0 records in league play. That would mean the winner would be the hands-down league champ — no tiebreakers needed.
As if that wasn’t enough, we have the built-in drama of East star Daylen Kountz, who has been arguably the best player in the state in the 10 games since he became eligible back in January, playing against his old team in George Washington. Even without Kountz, the Patriots have been a blitzing force this season that turns attacking, predatory defense into dynamic transition offense the other way. This is an unselfish group that can shoot and attack, and they share the ball while they’re doing it.
George Washington has lost to only one Colorado team this season, a 71-61 loss to No. 1 ThunderRidge more than a month ago. They’ve blitzed everyone in their path since and are eager to claim a league title they hope will only be the start of their journey down the stretch.
East, meanwhile, always seems to find a way to play its best basketball late in the year, and each game with a team that wasn’t fully formed until a month ago offers another chance to strengthen its chemistry.
As far as what to expect in the game itself? You can bet that the Patriots will do everything they can to limit the effectiveness of their former teammate. G-Dub’s charge on the defensive perimeter is led by brothers Calvin and Jon’il Fugett. Jon’il, of course, is also club teammates with Kountz on the Colorado Hawks, and the deep knowledge of tendencies goes both ways.
Kountz has proven highly difficult to stop when he gets going down hill. His long first step to the left his usually quick enough to create a window of separation from his defender, and from there his length and high-level athleticism takes over. Success for the Patriots will likely depend on forcing Kountz out of the comfort of getting to the rack.
Defensively for East, the Patriots present many challenges by virtue of their multi-pronged approach. The Fugetts and Jervay Green, the 6-4 senior he poured in 64 points in a win over Denver West on Friday — tied for the fourth-highest single-game total in state history — can all take charge at any time. Further, the Patriots have role players like senior Shaheem Speer, Tray Pierce, Mohammed Diallo and others who are more than willing to play their roles while matching toughness.
It is going to be imperative for East’s own talented backcourt trio of Kountz and seniors Jamison Washington and Joe Abiakam, to match the aggression and energy of G-Dub’s trio. But here’s guessing this game could ultimately be decided by which squad’s role players can answer the bell.
Get to the Thunderdome early on Saturday. You don’t want to miss this one.
Who Will Take The Title? George Washington. This should be a fantastic game in what is an excellent rivalry. But the Patriots just have a little more firepower and should edge the Angels for their second straight perfect DPL run and league title.