Games of the Week following MLK Break
Following the MLK break that gave teams an extra day off we get back started into the stronger part of the half, its another week of conference play where teams have played some of their best basketball of the season. This week, another strong slate of games, here’s who we have as our five best.
Tuesday, January 16th
Doherty at Rampart
Tuesday sets up for a great battle for two of the top teams out of Colorado Springs. Rampart is 9-4 on the season and is currently on a two-game winning streak coming off of a nail biting finish over Pine Creek. They’re led by their three seniors Josh Kavalec (17.7 pts, 4.7 ast) Xavier Johnson (16.3 pts, 5.4 rbs) and standout Dawson Carper whose close to averaging a double-double on the year at an impressive 18.8 points and 9.2 rebounds a game. The Rams are as deep of a team that you’ll see this year and are up against a good Doherty team. Doherty has five players averaging over nine points a game in DeMarious Carey, Joshua Walker and Alijah Blake. But their two seniors Kyrele Benford (13.2 pts, 7.5 rebounds and Joe Golden (10.8 pts, 11.2 rbs) have been on another level and are a huge reason the Spartans are 11-2 on the year. This will be a dog fight and a game to get out to.
Rock Canyon at Regis
Rock Canyon’s still undefeated on the year and taking a look at their schedule looks like it’ll stay that way for quite some time. They’re a strong team that has balance everywhere on the court and seems to be a game of the week staple for Prep Hoops Colorado. They’re led by their three seniors Sam Masten, Tyson Gilbert and Blake Williams who are all having an incredible year. They play the right way and share the ball as good as any team in the state. Regis will have to be at their best if they want to upset the #1 team in the state. They’re currently on their first losing streak of the year as they fell to George Washington and Thunder Ridge this week in a tough stretch of games this year. They’ll look to get back going when they face-off against the Jags and the good thing is, their schedule slows down after this game.
Wednesday, January 17th
Overland at Grandview
Overland had unarguably the toughest schedule to start the year as they faced off against some of the top teams in the state and despite starting off the year 0-5 they currently sit at 6-7 on the year. The reason why? It could be Tucson Redding, Daijon Smith and Goy Wang Jr. that has them on their current five game winning streak against the likes of Eaglecrest, Rangeview, Cherokee Trail and an upset against Smoky Hill. They’re playing some of their best basketball of the year at a great time and will want to pounce on a Grandview team that’s coming off of their worst game of the year in a blowout loss to Cherokee Trail. Ben Boone, Davon Walker and Dayne Prim will have to play better if they plan to get back on the right track as one of the best teams in the state but then again, it’s a Centennial league battle and you never know what you’re going to get as any given night anybody could lose. This will be a battle and one of the better games of the week.
Friday, January 18th
Doherty at Regis
Doherty has to have a good week of basketball as they have a Colorado Springs battle against a pesky Rampart team and then finish off the week against a strong Regis team that also will have to play their best week of basketball. Doherty uses their size and speed to win games as they have two big men in Benford and Golden who combine for about 19 boards a game. The Raiders will have to keep those two off the board and make Regis play at their pace if they have any chance of winning the game and it starts with good play by Jamil Safieddine, Elijah Martinez and Sam Bannec. This should be a fast-paced high scoring game that’ll come down to who wants it more in the 4th quarter.
Saturday, January 20th
Cherry Creek at Grandview
Creek is a balanced and disciplined team that plays hard-nosed basketball. They’re currently on a two-game winning streak, including an overtime finish over Mullen where Dimitri Stanley and Sebastian Cole willed their team to a victory. The Bruins are a team that gets it done with their hustle and willingness to bang inside which’ll be needed as they face off one of the biggest teams in the state in Grandview. Grandview will look to bounce back against a red-hot Overland squad on Wednesday and Creek on Saturday. The good thing, Grandview is a team that gets it done in a variety of ways. They can shoot the ball and have more than a few players that can get it done inside as well so this will be a game where the bigs will determine who wins the game.
