Games of the weekend: Week 2

<p>We already took a look at games of the week with plenty of solid action on each day but now we take a look at some of the best games of the weekend. With it being tournament season it is interesting to see who goes up against eachother and also coaches have done a good job of getting the top teams to go at eachother. Here are games that stood out for me on Friday and Saturday. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"> <strong>Friday</strong></p> <p><strong><em>Smoky Hill versus Chaparral</em></strong></p> <p>This is the game of the weekend and it does not get any better of this. Both teams have some incredible guards and no love lost between the programs who feel they have the best guards in the state. For Chaparral it all starts with <strong>Kobe Sanders</strong> who we have pegged as the top guard in the state. He is a high IQ guard that controls tempo, pace and is able to score from anywhere on the court. He is at 16 points a game and understands that he has to do more if they plan on beating some of these better teams that are keying in on him. <strong>Aaron Jacob</strong> has helped him in the scoring depatrments at 14 points a game while also securing boards as well but also has to step up his game as Smoky Hill’s athleticism is a different monster altogether. <strong>Keaton Crockett</strong> has emerged as an X-factor but <strong>Dalton Waldron</strong> and must step up as well. The player that I am most excited to see is <strong>Jeremiah Coleman</strong>. He gives Sanders the ability to play more off the ball and he is a young guard tht adjusts on the fly. That is good because Smoky Hill is going to send everything that they have. Excited for this game.</p> <p>For Smoky Hill, it has been the <strong>Jalen Weaver</strong> show as he continues to show that he is a top-5 player in the state. He plays with maturity to his game, scores with ease and steps up in big moments but they also have <strong>Quinten Rock</strong> who I am sure will come into the game with a chip on his shoulder. He has controlled the team and been the guard that they have needed to settle everything down as a true-point guard. <strong>Anthony Harris Jr</strong>. has been a high flying act that has opened games up with his ability to slash on offense and protect the paint inside. He is an exciting player to watch. <strong>Deangelo Horn and Maurice Walker II</strong> are two players that the Buffaloes can put in the game and watch them create offensively. They get inside and make plays and <strong>Jordan Whitaker</strong> and <strong>Dylan Sanders</strong> are also players to watch as well. Smoky Hill has what it takes to win it all they just have to continue to show up in these big games. Friday night is a big game.</p> <p><strong><em>Ralston Valley versus Fairview</em></strong></p> <p>Ralston Valley is a group that plays together with chemisty as well as any team in the state and have a group that buys in on both ends of the floor. <strong>Caden Gigstad</strong> and <strong>Caleb Rillos</strong> are both putting up 17.3 points a game and showing that they are heavy-hitters in the scoring department that need to be taken mor seriously but they also have players like <strong>Walker Brickle</strong> and <strong>Zach Akin</strong> that can step up as well. They are a team that shares the ball and makes the right play and is going to make the opposing team fight for every single thing that they get and that is the type of basketball that you want to see.</p> <p>Fairview will have to have their best players start out well and aggressive from the opening tip and they know that. <strong>Jalen Page</strong> will have to be a double-double machine that gets after it on both ends of the floor. His rebounding is down this year and that will have to be where he makes a difference. <strong>Greysen Carter</strong>(15.8 ppg, 7.3 rebs) has been on a tear to start the season and deserves more credit for it. He has that team playing really well and has looked like the best player on the team in doing so and they have gotten solid play from <strong>Mark O’Neill</strong> and <strong>TJ Williams</strong> as well. Both teams have very deep depth and are able to go into their bench to start runs. This will be a battle that can be decided on the last play of the game. I expect there to be a battle where both teams leave it all out on the floor and defense to be the storyline.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Saturday</strong></p> <p><em><strong>Lewis Palmer versus Doherty</strong></em></p> <p>For Doherty, the man in the middle runs the show and everyone else fits in where they can around him. <strong>Lucas Moerman</strong> is one of the state's best bigs and opposing teams have found out why with his defensive presence. He changes the game in so many ways and changes things for the opposing teams game plan. <strong>Aj Guiao</strong> started out a bit slow but is coming off of an explosive game where he put up 30 points against Vista Ridge. They will need their point guard to remain aggressive and find players like <strong>Schaefer Reichart</strong> who is also putting up 12.7 points a game as well. I am waiting for the game that they put it altogether and maybe this is the statement win that they deseperately need to kickstart the season.</p> <p>Lewis-Palmer has been running the Springs for years and they have started off exactly where they left off. They went 28-0 last season to take on the title and just when people thought they would fall off they showed why everyone is wrong. They are 4-0 on the year with some blowout wins under their belt and the young trio of<strong> Eddie Speller Jr.</strong> (12.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg), <strong>Cameron Lowe</strong> (12.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and <strong>Colin Westfall</strong> (10.8 ppg, 3.8 apg) are making sure that the state knows they are going to still be okay as one of the best in 4A still. This will be another big win for them if they are able to pull it off and show that no matter the class or size, Lewis-Palmer is still able to win big games.</p> <p>This will be a battle on whoever wins the boards most likely wins the game.</p> <p><em><strong>Centaurus versus Northfield</strong></em></p> <p>In the battle of the 4A teams, it is a fun one as Northfield will be going up to try and get a win versus a stingy Centaurus team.</p> <p>For Northfield it has been <strong>Nahsyah Bolar</strong>. We knew he would be good, but at 21.3 points and 10.7 rebounds a game consider us shocked as well. He is doing it all for Northfield and he has a group around him that seems to be finding a rhythm and understanding when to feed the big man. <strong>RaShiek Gaddis</strong> is putting up 14 points a game as an under the radar standout and <strong>Bally Diakite</strong> is good as well.</p> <p>For Centaurus it all starts with <strong>Owen Koonce</strong> who remains one of the best unsigned seniors in the state. He is putting up 15.7 points and 5.7 rebounds a game but has some helo this year as he has gotten jr. <strong>Dashiel Walker</strong> to setp up as he is up to 8.3 points and 3.3 reboudns and also <strong>Mario Everett</strong> has been a welcomed addition as well. Expect this one to be back and forth and come down to whoever closes in the final few minutes.</p>