4A Playoffs: Stars Certain to Decide the Larry Brunson Region

<p>The 4A playoffs got started on Wednesday evening with some exciting matchups. Some games were blowouts, some were close, but they set up for some intriguing matchups in the second round. Here we take a look at some of the stars in the region that are surely going be on the game plan. Here’s a look at the Larry Brunson Region.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 24pt; font-family: ’book antiqua’, palatino, serif;"><u>The Matchups</u></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: impact, sans-serif;">#2 Glenwood Springs v. #31 Weld Central</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: impact, sans-serif;">#15 Green Mountain v. #18 Centaurus</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: impact, sans-serif;">#7 Harrison v. #39 Sierra</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: impact, sans-serif;">#10 Pueblo West v. No.23 Sand Creek</span></p> <p><strong>Top Player: </strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/donta-dawson/">[player_tooltip player_id="916955" first="Donta" last="Dawson"]</a> – Harrison </strong></p> <p>Dawson has been a complete player for his high school career that checks off all of the boxes that you want in a player. He is a guard with size, scores with ease, steps out and shoots it, rebounds and also passes to get everyone involved. The thing that separates him from the pack is his ability to play as well as defend multiple positions which makes him difficult to game plan for. Guards stand no chance and bigs are not quick enough. The 6’4 combo-guard put up  18.6 points and 68 rebounds a game. He led the Panthers to an 18-4 overall record and Harrison was able to finish off the season strong. Harrison knows what time of environment it will be in the playoffs as their second-round opening is crosstown rivals, Sierra high school. The game will be intense, the game will be rocking and if the top dog in the reason is able to e himself, Harrison is the darkhorse team that I feel will come out of the region.</p> <p><strong>Top floor general:</strong></p> <p><strong>John Iuele – Glenwood Springs</strong></p> <p>Glenwood Springs is the top team in the region but is also the team that has been spoken about the least in the conference. They finished with a 20-3 record and the thing is this is one of the deepest teams in the state that work as one. The player that keeps them all together is senior guard John Iuele. Ieuele is the teams leading scorer at 13.6 points a game but he also provides balance. While he scores the ball he is also grabbing 3.4 rebounds a game and also dishing out a team-high 4.3 assists a game. He is going to be the focus for Glenwood Springs and with a whole quadrant of disbelievers, he will have to lead the pack. He is a high IQ guard that plays unselfish and if he gets off to a hot start I expect the Demons to keep rolling.</p> <p><strong>Top combo-guard:</strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/taylor-harris/">[player_tooltip player_id="915295" first="Taylor" last="Harris"]</a> – Pueblo West </strong></p> <p>Harris is maybe the hardest working player in 4A and that kind of hustle and energy is contagious. Especially seeing that he is the Cyclones best player. He is a playmaking guard that put up 16.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists and he can play on and off of the ball to get things done. He is going to be the Cyclone that has to lead the way and he must be the same versatile player that he has been all season long while providing leadership as well. Sand Creek will challenge Pueblo West and it is up to their best player to lead the way.</p> <p><strong>Top Big:</strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/owen-koonce/">[player_tooltip player_id="770338" first="Owen" last="Koonce"]</a> – Centaurus </strong></p> <p>He is not really a big man, but in this region, he will do so much work down low and on the block that we might as well put him here. Koonce could’ve also been on the top player list as he is an unsigned senior that creates mismatches each time out and will surely step up. In the opening game, he went off for 38 points on the night to lead his team to victory, and that is the type of player he has been all season long. Koonce scores, rebounds and results and is going to be the player that Centaurus rides to the finish line. It all depends on him, and that is a pressure that he seems to enjoys.</p> <p><strong>X-Factor:</strong></p> <p><strong>Markus Ramirez – Sand Creek</strong></p> <p>The X-factor in the region and player that gets overlooked a bit despite being an outstanding player is junior shooting guard Markus Ramirez. Ramirez stood out as a sophomore for the Scorpions but has upped his game in his junior season in every category. He is a set shooter that can put the ball in the basket in different ways, and his constant movement creates gravity and pull so that the defense cannot get set and is moving around in an attempt to slow him down. He not only sits on the perimeter but makes it a point to get to the rim as well. He is putting up 14.1 points a game, and there was a patch that he was averaging about 18 points a game and being the go-to scorer that opened things up. He also finished the season with a bang. Sand Creek will need him to play well as they go up against a scrappy Pueblo West team that gets after it. If he can get going early, then Sand Creek will put themselves in a position to win. If not, then it will be a long night.</p>