5A Games of the week: Week 3

<p>We are three weeks into the 2019-20 season and have had some teams separate themselves from the pack and others who have shown that they are ready to make a run at this. There have been blowouts, there have been some games that have come down to the wire. Each week we have picked out games of the day and they have delivered. There is a solid week 3 slate before heading into the Christmas break. Here are our picks at games of the week.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Monday</strong></p> <p><em>Highlands Ranch versus Columbine</em></p> <p>This is a battle of two undefeated teams that have a very good win under their belt. Highlands Ranch pulled a 70-64 upset over Smily Hill just two weeks ago and Columbine is fresh off of a win against Overland so this is going to be a game where both teams really go at it.<strong> Luke O’Brien</strong> has had an incredible high school career and four games into his senior season before going to the University of Colorado is looking at more than just numbers, he wants to bring it home. He is at 27 points a game and also has 15 rebounds to go along with it. He is definitely a top-5 player in the state and playing like it. He will need <strong>Tristan Alward, Garret Rogers, Wade Jones </strong>and<strong> Jeff Potts</strong> to continue filling in and doing all of the small things to get away with a win against a team like Highlands Ranch.</p> <p>Highlands Ranch has solid guard play in <strong>Yafet Mesfin</strong> and and <strong>Tristan Hurdle</strong> who are able to turn the game around on their own. They are high IQ guards that control the tempo and have the ability to score in various ways but with <strong>Ryker Cisarik</strong> having the season that he is having it is going to be difficult to slow this team down. This will be an incredible game that should come down to the wire.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Tuesday</strong></p> <p><em>Denver East versus Palmer </em></p> <p>Very, very hard to not look at that Fairview versus Eaglecrest game as the game of the day, but with Denver East finally getting their first real test of the year in Palmer, it has to be the game of the day. Palmer began the season with a pretty big win over a very talented Mead team that will most likely be a contender this season and have only taken one loss on the season, against Evergreen. Now they are up against a whole different monster altogether in Denver East. <strong>Kolben Barney</strong> has been one of the standout juniors on the season that has jumped on our radars and is up there in our newest rankings. He is putting up 21.3 points a game and will be asked to carry the scoring load against a team that wants to run you out of the gym. <strong>Dominant Valverde-Priester</strong> is at 7.8 points and also amongst the state-leaders in rebounds at just under 10 a game. They will have to be the difference-makers that match the intensity that will surely have to be there and make some lead way inside with help from others. <br /> <br /> For East, it is a very talented and deep bunch. Top sophomore in the state,<strong> Langston Reynolds</strong> is head and shoulders above where he should be at this point. He is putting up 23 points a game but is also getting it done in every single way. He rebounds, gets others involved and is also up to 2.3 steals a game which shows us that he is engaged defensively as well. Junior guard <strong>Boston Stanton III</strong> had an impressive summer and took it into the season as he is putting up 20 points and 5.5 rebounds a game as well. <strong>Patrick Steed</strong> had jumped into the mic and is a playmaker with high upside as well. His 15.5 points and 7.8 rebounds are impressive already but to add in the fact that he is leading the state in steals at five a game is an insane idea altogether. I am excited to finally see them get tested just a bit as they are coming off of a game that they won by over 60 points.</p> <p><em>It has to be closer than that.</em></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Wednesday</strong></p> <p><em>Hinkley versus Green Mountain </em></p> <p>On a day that the focus on Colorado teams will be on the Tarkanian Classic, there are still some in-state games that should be interesting. One, in particular, will be a battle of two teams that got off to a hot start. For Green Mountain, they are one of the undefeated teams still remaining and have gotten through some challenging games. They have a three-headed monster trio of <strong>Blake Schell</strong> (11.0 ppg), <strong>Trey Towndrow</strong> (10.8) and <strong>Austin Peterson</strong> (10.5 ppg) that are averaging double-figures but also Senior forward <strong>Matt Schlieper</strong> (9.8 ppg and 7.0 rpg) has stood out and been a big reason that this team is winning games. Players seem to know their roles and embracing them and to be able to pull out the type of games that they have. They will have another close game that they are forced to capitalize on late if they plan on remaining undefeated.</p> <p>Hinkley started out the season 4-0 but are coming off of two losses to Lakewood and Bear Creek in the Bear Creek Invitational and will be wanting to get back on the right track. They are a group that Junior wing <strong>Jeremiah Warren</strong> is averaging 19 points a game and is not afraid to take shots. He does not turn down shots and is capable of creating for himself. <strong>Tjai Jackson</strong> has also been a force offensively at 14.4 points but also helps in the rebounding department as well. Those two push the pace and get the offense going. They will both be needed if they plan on beating a talented Green Mountain team with big man <strong>Jeremiah Taylor</strong> affecting the game in as many ways as he can. He will surely be on the boards and giving his team multiple chances to win.</p> <p><strong>Thursday</strong></p> <p><em>Mountain Vista versus Thomas Jefferson</em></p> <p>This is a game that will be a stiff-test for both teams, for Mountain Vista, they will have to go up against a very tough group of guards that the Spartans have but combat it with very good guards of their own that are capable of getting hot at any given moment. <strong>Reece Kelly</strong> has been Mountain Vista’s most consistent scorer at 18.8 points a game and is a rebounding machine as well. I fully expect him to explode for a big game on Thursday. <strong>Ben Bowen</strong> has also upped his game this season as he has stepped up as a scorer and defensive threat. He is at 13.3 points a game and is stepping down and rebounding as well. <strong>Rhys Pulling</strong> is an X-factor that does everything that is asked of him and<strong> Spencer Thomas</strong> is helping out on the boards. This is a team that shares the basketball and plays disciplined basketball.</p> <p>For the Spartans, it is<strong> Darius Hornbuckle</strong> that has led the way. He is the only player averaging in double-digits at 19.6 points a game and he will be looking for his capable teammates to step up and help him in the scoring department I do know one thing – he is going to get his. He steps up every single game and is not afraid to let it fly. He scores in different ways and will have to get hot early if the Spartans want to stick around with this team<strong>. Said Mobasher, Keshaun Taylor, and Ryan Moe</strong> have to be difference-makers. If it is not scoring, they have to affect the game in various ways. Rebound well, get stops and hustle at all times as this is a team that you must play hard against but smart. This is a game that I am excited about and I am sure that we will have one of our writers on-site.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Friday</strong></p> <p><em>Arapahoe versus Dakota Ridge</em></p> <p>Arapahoe makes the list twice this week and you know what you are going to get from them. Solid guard play where <strong>Bryson Stephens</strong> and <strong>Korey Hess</strong> do everything in their power to try and control the game, they will run the offense through those two but this will be a game that the Warriors big men are going to have to step up as Dakota Ridge is one of the bigger teams with an unorthodox style of play.</p> <p>They have a point forward in <strong>Taeshaud Jackson Jr</strong>. who makes it difficult for opposing guards because he is so big and athletic that he is hard to guard in transition but he also can dish it off. He also gets inside and dominates. He is at 14 points, over eight rebounds, and over four assists as well. Unsure how Arapahoe slows that down. Alongside him has been jr. big man <strong>Gino Corridori</strong> that has been off to a solid start as well. He is at 16.2 ppg and 9.8 rebounds as well. They make a dynamic duo that will be tough to defend for this year and next and also Senior guard <strong>Brayden Rhoades</strong> (13.4 ppg) has stepped up as well.</p> <p>Arapahoe will have their hands full with trying to rebound and have Dakota Ridge play to their game but have the personnel to do it. This should be a high-scoring game where protecting the ball and the guard-battle will matter a ton.</p>