5 Standouts: Fairview versus Cherokee Trail

<p>The Cherry Creek Holiday tournament got underway on Thursday evening with some very good and close-fought games. Of the games, one that came down to one team overcoming a slow start was Fairview and Cherokee Trail. Fairview is one of the top teams in the state that is trying to get on the right track and Cherokee Trail is a team that is going to compete no matter who it is they are up against. Fairview pulled off the 58-54 victory and with that there were five players that truly stepped out in the game. Here we break down what they did that was so well.</p> <p><strong>Tre Titus – Cherokee Trail</strong></p> <p>Titus is a guard that has putting together a great start to the season as an unranked player that has been attempting to make a name for himself with big scoring days and being the focal point of the offense so we made sure to get out and check him out. Against Fairview, we seen all of the things that has him as one of the standout scorers in the Centennial league. He finished with 16 points and kept his team in the game without the Cougars top players. He went 6-9 from the field and showed off his range going 3-4 from beyond the arc. He also stepped up defensively as he had two steals in the game and although Cherokee Trail is not off to the start that they were expecting there has been a bright spot for them in Titus. They will have to get right and turn their season around soon as they are in the top league in the state. They will have to lean on their senior guard to lead the way and continue having big games.</p> <p><strong>Austin Gibson – Cherokee Trail</strong></p> <p>Gibson is a sophomore that had not been on our radars but one that really made a name for himself as he stepped up for his best game of the season and it was against the best team that CT has played this year. He stayed aggressive and made sure to battle inside with soft touch around the rim. He had 12 points in the game and affected the game in other ways as well as he controlled the inside with the boards finishing with seven rebounds and also denied interior passes with three steals as well. It was great to see a breakout game for him and I know that Cherokee Trail is hoping that it remains that way moving forward.</p> <p><strong>Greysen Carter – Fairview</strong></p> <p>Carter is a player that not only has jumped onto our radars this season but is truly standing out as he impresses every single time that we see him. He had 14 points in the game and is a versatile guard that you cannot leave open around the 3-point line and he wants to post players up as well. He is who the Knights ran the offense through in the first half as they started out slow and put them in the position to make their late push despite not scoring in the final quarter. Carter is a player that will surely continue to show out for the Knights and a player that you have to see once if given the opportunity.</p> <p><strong>Jalen Page – Fairview</strong></p> <p>Page is a calm player that allows the game to come into him. It would be great to see him way more aggressive as I feel as if he could take over in games and more often than not as he has the mismatch and cannot be contained. He is the captain and emotional leader on the team and  is the player who they rely on in tough times to make plays even if it is not scoring. He finished with 11 points in the game and is also one of the best defenders on the team that refuses to be scored on and is going to get to his sweet spots. He is capable of going on runs and also sets screens and sets up for charges or whatever is needed.</p> <p><strong>Mark O’Neill –Fairview </strong></p> <p>Senior guard, Mark O’Neill is a player that is growing on us each time that we have seen him. He is an aggressive downhill runner that gets to his spots but cannot be denied once his mind is made up. He is able to get to the rim and finish or pull up for a mid-range jump shot as well. Offensively, he is the playmaker for the team as he serves as Fairview’s best ball-handler. He is also a player that finds open players with a few passes that not even his teammates are ready for. He finished with a team-high 15 points and is who Fairview relied on late in the game as he took over in the second half and put Cherokee Trail away with finishes at the rim as well as free-throws. Good game for him overall.</p>