4A Playoffs: Stars Certain to Decide the Ron Vlasin Region

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 Ron Vlasin Region, which is unarguably the deepest region and most interesting of any in the entire state, regardless of class. The Matchups #1 Mead v. #32 Air Academy #16 Silver Creek v. #17 Thomas Jefferson #8 Cheyenne Mountain v. #17 Thomas Jefferson #9 Montrose v. 24 Evergreen Top Player: <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/javonte-johnson/">[player_tooltip player_id="605549" first="Javonte" last="Johnson"]</a> – Cheyenne Mountain <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/javonte-johnson/">[player_tooltip player_id="605549" first="Javonte" last="Johnson"]</a> is the top dog in the region and every single game he plays like it. Johnson is not satisfied with only being in the argument as the top overall-player and approaches each practice and game with the same intensity. The New Mexico commit led the state in scoring this season with arguably the best stat line of any player in Colorado. The 6’6 combo-guard averaged 30.4 points a game while also putting up 10.4 rebounds a game as well. He shoots the ball off of the dribble and creates for himself and is also not afraid of going down the lane for a dunk with defenders around. Defenders are forced to foul him as he lives at the FT line. With a matchup against another Division I player on his home floor, I am unsure he gets any sleep this weekend as I know his competitive juices will be flowing. This is the game to watch of the weekend as Cheyenne Mountain goes up against Lincoln. Johnson is the star of the region. Top floor general: <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ty-foster/">[player_tooltip player_id="915290" first="Ty" last="Foster"]</a> – Lincoln Foster is a high IQ guard that has not made his college decision yet but has some options to choose from. But for now, he wants to see how deep he can take his team. Foster is an athletic guard that can get to the rim as easy as any other guard in the state and finishes well with either a strong finish or dunk. He finds the open man and has a huge load on his back as one of the Lancers only ball handlers. He has composure under pressure and plays at his own pace. He takes care of the ball with minimal turnovers and is difficult to stay in front of. This season he put up a modest 16.3 points and 5.3 assists and that is while only having one player to get the ball to. In a different situation, I feel that he will take a more floor generalship role and is an underrated passer that makes the right play. He is the leader of this team and brings a tenacity and toughness that makes his team believe. He is a hard-nosed perimeter defender that refuses to get scored on and when he is locked in on the defensive end of the floor it elevates his game. Foster has played some very solid guards this year and has shown what makes him different. Look for him to take on the challenge and give his team a chance to win in a very balanced matchup against one of the most talented teams in the state. Top combo-guard: <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tj-bamba/">[player_tooltip player_id="914081" first="TJ" last="Bamba"]</a> – Lincoln First and foremost, the Division I battle between <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tj-bamba/">[player_tooltip player_id="914081" first="TJ" last="Bamba"]</a> and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/javonte-johnson/">[player_tooltip player_id="605549" first="Javonte" last="Johnson"]</a> is must-see tv and it is unfortunate that it is not at a neutral location or a game that gets seen as the Denver Coliseum. Nonetheless, the Cheyenne Mountain gym will be rocking as they get a look at arguably the top player in the state up against a future Pac-12 player in Bamba. Bamba is a legit 6’6 player that has also put together a sensational season of his own while having one of the heaviest loads of any player in the state and time and time again he came through. Bamba put up 24.7 points and 10.0 rebounds a game while leading the Lancers to victory after victory but Saturday will be a different monster in itself as this will be the best individual matchup that he sees all season. Bamba will get the opportunity to prove just what kind of player he is as <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/javonte-johnson/">[player_tooltip player_id="605549" first="Javonte" last="Johnson"]</a> will surely take the matchup personally. Top Big: Luke Hutto – Montrose Size-wise, Hutto is only 6’2 but once you see him play you’ll see that he plays well above his size. He is a forward with high upside and if he is able to keep growing then the sophomore has a chance to be special. He jumped onto the scene this season as he is putting up 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds a game as one of the better rebounders in the team that has a back to the basket game and puts the defender on his hip and finish. He can score in different ways down low with soft-touch, possesses a skyhook, which he finishes with both hands, and he gets into a rhythm early. Hutto is a confident scorer down low that creates mismatches and also passes off of the block, and with him down low and having a great supporting cast around him can get in perfect scoring positions. Montrose knows they have a player that can take over at times and will feed him early and often. First up is Evergreen, who will give the Indians all that they could handle. X-Factor: There are a few different X-factors in the region to take a look at such as Thomas Jefferson point guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/darius-hornbuckle/">[player_tooltip player_id="915304" first="Darius" last="Hornbuckle"]</a> that scores with relative ease and gets his shots up, Andrew Duquette from Silver Creek who is putting up 18.7 points a game and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/griffin-lauritano/">[player_tooltip player_id="916974" first="Griffin" last="Lauritano"]</a> is not far behind him at 18.4 points a game and will have his group ready to pull up an upset. While those players all stand out with a few more players that also should make the list, the X-factor that I feel truly makes the entire region flow is <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trey-mead/">[player_tooltip player_id="915302" first="Trey" last="Ward"]</a> from Mead. Mead is the No.1 team in the region and has put together a near-perfect season. After dropping the first game of the season, they have put together 22-straight wins and have ridden their senior combo-guard to this point and will need him to continue to be special. Ward does it all for the Mavericks, and they rely on him to provide that balance. He’s a 6’2 combo-guard that plays beyond his size. He competes on every possession, scores the ball and is the engine for the group. The team rallies behind their senior on both ends of the floor, and getting him into a groove in the opening game bodes well for Mead as they try and keep off outside of the conference doubters that feel as if they aren’t as good as advertised. Ward is putting up 14.7 points a game, but a lot of what he does goes beyond the scoreboard, so it is critical that he remains himself and does not step away from the game-plan. Everyone will be gunning for the top dogs.