Games of the week: Week 7

Another solid week of basketball coming up. Here are what we deem as the best games of the day for the week. Monday Mountain Vista v. Fountain-Fort Carson Mountain Vista is a team that has turned it on lately and is coming off of an impressive win against Chaparral. They will look to have the same results against a talented Fountain Fort-Carson team with their big-time players stepping up yet again. In their last outing, their dynamic duo of Reece Kelley and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ben-bowen/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ben-bowen/">Ben Bowen</a></a> had huge games. Kelly put up a season-high 28 points with four 3-pointers and he also grabbed 11 rebounds as well. There aren’t many players playing at the level that he has been to begin the season and he has been putting it together when his team has needed him most. Bowen added 20 points as well. His outside shot was falling but he was also getting to the rim where he was either fouled or finishing. Nathan Miller was the X-factor in the game that recorded nine points and also had a team-high four assists as well. The Golden Eagles hope to ride the momentum that they brought last game and start this game with intensity. Intensity is what you need against a team like FFC. Fountain Fort-Carson has looked more like the team that we were expecting to see this year. They are coming off of two wins against a talented Doherty team and a pesky Coronado team and now get their last out of conference game out of the way before heading into the thick of league play. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/keyshawn-maltbia/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/keyshawn-maltbia/">Keyshawn Maltbia</a></a> has been Mr. Everything for the Trojans. He is averaging 18.7 points a game as one of the better capable scorers in the Springs who still remains a steal for a college looking for a solid guard and has gotten help from junior big man <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/isaiah-thompson/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/isaiah-thompson/">Isaiah Thompson</a></a> who is averaging a double-double of 13.8 points and 12.3 rebounds a game. Michael Shannon has played exceptionally well in the last eight games, Isacc Berrier and Tripp Beatty have been solid pieces that do the dirty work for this team as well. If they can get everyone on the same page they have a good chance. This is a game that will come down to the final two minutes I am sure. Tuesday Windsor v. Mead Windsor is a team that has been off to a solid start as they have one of the deeper teams in their conference. They are led by junior wing <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ben-hageman/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ben-hageman/">Ben Hageman</a></a> 15.5 points and 7.8 rebounds a game. He is a slasher and inside presence that finishes well around the rim and also gets others involved as well. Senior combo-guard Lance Mcginnis is also having a good season. He does a bit of everything. He can score (11.9 ppg) and also dishes (4.0 apg), rebounds (4.2 rpg) and plays well on defense as well with his 2.0 steals a game as well. Jaden Kennis (9.9 ppg), Kobe Greene (9.7 ppg) and Chase Eastin (5.5 ppg) all are players that can get going at any moment and can lead the team on any given night. With a team this deep if they are all able to get going at the same time can be a very dangerous team when the playoffs come around. Mead is the epitome of depth. They have one of the deepest squads in the entire state. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trey-mead/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trey-mead/">Trey Ward</a></a> (14.3 ppg) has been the name to know over here. This Senior captain has been the go-to player that has been attacking the lane with high flying acts and also challenging himself on both ends of the floor. Senior guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/will-maher/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/will-maher/">Will Maher</a></a> has been sensational. He has 13.5 ppg and also has dished out a team-high 5.5 apg that is amongst the state leaders. Those two have impacted the league and with them played exceptionally well this is a team that will be difficult to defend. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/elijah-knudsen/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/elijah-knudsen/">Elijah Knudsen</a></a> has provided outside shooting at 42% from beyond the arc and is putting up 12.7 ppg and has as the team’s jack-of-all-trades <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/nick-jacobs/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/nick-jacobs/">Nick Jacobs</a></a> that has shined bright at times. With a player like <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/james-shiers/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/james-shiers/">James Shiers</a></a> inside, this is a team that matches up with any team in the state and this will be a game that they come out and attempt to prove a point. Wednesday Smoky Hill v. Cherry Creek It’s tough to not go with Valor Christian versus Ralston Valley as the game of the night but this is one that has been circled for quite some time. Smoky Hill is coming off of a huge win against Eaglecrest that went into overtime. Senior guard Quentin Rock has been on a mission as of late and is playing with a chip on his shoulder. He has taken over as the team’s leading scorer at 19.2 points a game where he has put together a six-game run where he is averaging 25.8 points a game and has gone 6-0 in that stretch. He is shooting the ball exceptionally well but also getting to the lane and making defenders pay. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jalen-weaver/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jalen-weaver/">Jalen Weaver</a></a> has also scored with ease at that time. Weaver is averaging 19.1 points a game and is coming off of a game where he put up 27 points against a top-3 team. With those two players coming up big and also youngsters like <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/anthony-harris-jr/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/anthony-harris-jr/">Anthony Harris Jr</a></a>. also manning the middle and making it difficult with opposing teams with interior defense and high-flying finishes this is a team that can compete with just about anyone. For Cherry Creek, it is a team full of guards and also the No.2 player in the 2021 class in <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/julian-hammond/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/julian-hammond/">Julian Hammond</a></a> III. Hammond is putting up 22.7 points a game and is also on those boards this year putting up 6.7 a game. He is shooting the ball relatively well but also getting to the rim and finishing or getting fouled. He is willing his team to victories but on Friday came up a bit short in a loss to Grandview. Hammond put up 19 points in the game but could not find a rhythm and with <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/myles-purchase/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/myles-purchase/">Myles Purchase</a></a> adding 13 points, they did not get much else help around him. The Bruins will need players like <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sebastian-cole/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sebastian-cole/">Sebastian Cole</a></a>, Davey Hands, and Chance Hausman to also step up against a team like Smoky Hill because if they do not they can be on the wrong end of a blowout. This is a game that all of the surrounding players will have to step up to give them a chance. Thursday Rangeview v. Vista Peak This has to be the game of the night because this is the last time that Rangeview will be tested for the rest of the season until they get ready for playoffs. For Vista Peak, this is a challenge, to prove that they belong. They do not have to win the game but if they prove that they are a team that will challenge even the best team in the state then they really have a chance at it and it also sets up for a better future as this is a team that can compete at finally taking Range view down when they graduate a big chunk of their team after this season. Vista Peak is a team that has gotten off to a stellar start but still has doubters keeping them out of the Top-10. For a team to be 13-2 and still not in the top-10 they feel they have a ton to prove. Vista is led by Senior wing A.J LaCabe who is leading the team in both points (12.5 ppg) and boards (6.2 rpg). It has been a bit quiet on his front somehow despite averaging better numbers than in his junior campaign that was considered a better year. Surrounding him he has others that have stepped up. Jaylen Carrizales (11.5ppg), Sayo Owolabi (10.0ppg) and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/curtis-stovall/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/curtis-stovall/">Curtis Stovall</a></a> (8.4 ppg) have been helping contributors and they make up a solid core of two-way players that get after it. Against Range view, all will have to step up and have big games if they have any chance at beating a team that has only been beaten once in league play in about a decade. Rangeview has the Speller brothers, Christopher and Christian leading the way for Range view as two dynamic guards that beat teams both inside and out but have gotten stellar play from <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/obi-agbim/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/obi-agbim/">Obi Agbim</a></a> as of late. He has been on a tear with sharpshooter <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cade-palmer/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cade-palmer/">Cade Palmer</a></a> also starting to come into his own offensively as well. This is a team that knows how to win and they are surely going to be ready to prove a point in this one. Expect a battle.