Games of the Week: February 5th-10th

<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Tuesday</strong></p> <p><strong><em>Range view vs. Brighton</em></strong></p> <p>Finally, it appears as if Range view finally has someone in the Emac that is putting up a fight and has a chance at a league title.  For Range view it about duplicating the success they already had over Range view earlier in the year when they beat them 78-34. The Raiders are led by Quincey Jewett who is still having one of the most impressive seasons of anybody in the state and it all came from nowhere. He is at 16.9 points and 12.4 rebounds a game. As he remains aggressive it opens things up for Jodaun Dotson, Christopher Speller and also Cade Palmer who can shoot the ball from the wing. This is a balanced team that will be aiming to prove a point.</p> <p>Brighton is led by a super duo of Brayden Schlitt (16.4 ppg) and Mason Beauman (10.4 ppg) that can get it going and score when called upon. Schlitt is also at 7.2 rebounds a game which can be the difference in the game if he could get going as he has been since playing earlier in the season. With help from Drake Cortez and a concerted effort on the defensive end Brighton could pull off an upset but they will have to truly be locked in if they want to take down Goliath.</p> <p><strong><em>Legend vs. Mountain Vista</em></strong></p> <p>For Legend this is a huge game as far as RPI. If they win they are taking down a #1 or #2 seed so they must show up. Sufyan Elkannan is leading the team in scoring for his Senior season and is going out with a bang. He is a wing that is showing off his athleticism in the open court and also a great slasher that has a good feel for the game that has had plenty of highlight dunks. He excels with the ball in his hands and MV will have to try and slow him down if they want to win but that just opens things up for Tanner Ellis, Caleb Tamminga, Garret Siebert and Cam Le Van. This squad is deep.</p> <p>Mountain Vista just has to maintain and keep coming away with wins. The Golden Eagles only have one loss on the season and are trying to prove that they are a top team in the state and will have to just run the table for the rest of the year. They have a trio of Ben Grusing (16.5 pts) Simon May (12.1 pts, 8.2 rebs) and Rhys Pulling (10.1 pts) a game all bringing it together. Mountain Vista is a high scoring fast paced bunch that can change it up if needed. This will be a back and forth affair that whoever controls pace wins the game.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Wednesday</strong></p> <p><em><strong>Eagle crest v. Mullen</strong></em></p> <p>For the Raptors it is about progression. Eagle crest is riding a two-game winning streak and are looking to make it three when they go up against a Mullen team that has been up and down to start the year. Aaron Bokol has been lights out on the year at 18.1 points a game and while also going down there and rebounding with the big men. As long as he is aggressive on the offensive end this is a game that they will be able to get. He is surrounded by a well-balanced group with Zion Ruckard holding down the point guard spot and running the offense, Thurbil Bile manning the middle and making things difficult and super-sophomore Ty Robinson providing you with a bit of everything. As long as this team is focused defensively it is going to be hard to beat them, they just have to keep it together for a full game instead of spurts.</p> <p>On the opposite end is a much-improved team that can get it going in a heartbeat and as we have seen a few times this year, when Christian Davis is on – he is on. He is one of the best shooters in the state and has been getting much help from junior Isaac Ondekane that really knows how to use his body well and is a mismatch more often than not. Not many players in the state can match with his size and physicality and he has a natural understanding of the game which has led to some big games already. He is raw but has a very high ceiling and at 13.8 points and 11.4 rebounds a game it will be up to the Eagle crest bigs to try and slow him down. If they cannot expect the Mustangs to run away with this one.</p> <p>This one will be a close game that might come down to the final shot.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Friday</strong></p> <p><em><strong>Greeley West v. Fairview</strong></em></p> <p>League contending games this week that could shake things up so this is a big week for Fairview if they want to be crowned league champion. Mark Dolan, Greysen Carter and Jalen Page have been a trio that not many are talking about enough. The Knights are undefeated in league play and that is because this is a unit that is deep with other players on the team that they can also put in and the team does not skip a beat. Their only three losses on the year or against teams that are in the top 10 and with a win will bolster their resume just a bit more as we get ready for tournament time.</p> <p>For Greeley West it has been the Andre Sepada show as he is up to an impressive 17.1 points a game. He also distributes the ball well and is locked in on the defensive end as he is up to 2.3 steals a game in which he converts into easy baskets on the opposite end. He has been getting help from Jarod Clark who is up to 13.1 points a game and 4.7 rebounds. The X-factor in this game will be the play of Tommy Gonzales. If his shot is on from beyond the arc that provides spacing to allow Sepada and Clark to get going and that is something you will need to take down a team like Fairview.</p> <p><em><strong>Thunder ridge v. Chaparral</strong></em></p> <p>As far as RPI is concerned this is the game of the week. The Continental league is one of the best in the state as it holds two of the top teams in the state trying to finish off on the right foot. For Chaparral it is about bouncing back. They are coming off of a loss last week to Regis but got a win over Rock Canyon and need a win here although they will most likely still finish with a #1 seed at state. Kobe Sanders has been showcasing why he is regarded as one of the top players in the state overall as he is averaging 18.4 points a game and running the team as a true point guard. The Wolverines are also getting contributions from Dalton Waldron and Bryce Matthews as the big men down low who get it done.</p> <p>For Thunder ridge it is their big men that get it done. This is a team that does not score a ton but they are a defensive team that uses their big men as well as any other team in the state. The Grizzlies are coming off of a win against Highlands Ranch that seen their best player Austin Holt lead the team again with 14 points. They also got a surprise standout game from Jr. Justin Smith who had 11 points. Friday’s game against Chaparral will be another battle of the bigs so that means whichever guard stands out will most likely win the game. I am expecting a low scoring thriller.</p>