5A Playoffs: Stars Certain to Decide the Chuck Williams Region

<p>The 5A playoffs got started on Wednesday evening with some exciting matchups. But now we set up for the second round of the playoffs with some very intriguing matchups in a tournament that multiple teams genuinely have a chance at being crowned champion. Here, we take a look at the Larry Farmer region in a balanced quadrant that it appears anyone can take it home.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 24pt; font-family: impact, sans-serif;"><u>The Matchups</u></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: impact, sans-serif;">#2 Fairview v. #31 Fountain Fort-Carson</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: impact, sans-serif;">#15 Vista Peak  v. #18 Windsor</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: impact, sans-serif;">#7 Chaparral v. #26 Douglas County</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: impact, sans-serif;">#10 Smoky Hill v. #23 Fossil Ridge</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Top Player: </strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jalen-weaver/">[player_tooltip player_id="608059" first="Jalen" last="Weaver"]</a> – Smoky Hill </strong></p> <p>When you put together a ceiling, potential, and raw skill, it is safe to say that <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jalen-weaver/">[player_tooltip player_id="608059" first="Jalen" last="Weaver"]</a> is in a class of his own in this region – he has to realize it. Although he has still put together an excellent season and is always a difference-maker in every single game, he hasn’t looked like himself. The No.1 junior in the state had a wonderful offseason where he looked like he was going to be in the running for the Gatorade Player of the Year but has mellowed out a bit. It’s time to get back in his bag. Weaver is putting up 18.6 points and 4.8 rebounds a game which by no means am I saying is just regular, you have to be a special player to do, but when you have seen him dominate against elite talent, there is a different level of intensity that comes with that. That is the Weaver that Smoky Hill will need in the playoffs. The confident, in your face as a defender and breaking down the defense off of the dribble and scoring at will Weaver is what I am expecting to get on their run as if he can get into his zone, Smoky has a genuine chance at winning it all.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Top floor general:</strong></p> <p><strong>Quentin Rock – Smoky Hill </strong></p> <p>The player that has elevated his game to not even a level that I saw coming this season where I was high on him has been Quentin Rock. Rock made a case for the No.1 point guard in the state this season as he went at every single player that stepped in front of him and led his team through the almighty Centennial league. Rock put together one of his most balanced seasons as the senior point guard has played at a level that not many other players have been able to. He is a high IQ guard that settles the team down, provides senior leadership that plays out on the floor, and gives Smoky Hill the swagger that they play with. Rock hits every big shot and does not back down to any competition. He put up a team-high 21.1 points a game and also dished out 4.8 assists to go along with it. Expect him to continue to attack each time down and abuse defenders as there aren’t many guards that can hang with him.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Top combo-guard:</strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kobe-sanders/">[player_tooltip player_id="796267" first="Kobe" last="Sanders"]</a> – Chaparral  </strong></p> <p>Sanders is who we have ranked as the top point guard in the state in a close guard battle, but with the emergence of <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jeremiah-coleman/">[player_tooltip player_id="918903" first="Jeremiah" last="Coleman"]</a>, he was able to step over to the two as the best combo-guard in the 2020 class. Sanders can shoot the ball exceptionally well as he can create for himself, or he moves around until he has the open shot. If he is open, get back on defense. Sanders gets to the rim, gets to the FT line, and with him playing more off of the ball this season has been able to set a career-high in essentially every category. Sanders is averaging 20.3 points and 4.5 assists. He is the captain and leader of the team, and the Wolverines are going to ride their best player as far as they can. Sanders shows up.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Top Big:</strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jalen-page/">[player_tooltip player_id="526680" first="Jalen" last="Page"]</a> – Fairview </strong></p> <p>Page is a coach’s dream type of player that you can build around. Rather you draw up a play for him or not; he is going to make sure that he is involved. He is going to create for himself on the defensive end, or he is going to rebound hard and score himself. He sets perfect screens, he hustles, and he takes every single match up perfectly, which goes a long way. No matter if it is a guard or not, Page wants to defend the opposing team’s best player, and that is not something you see often. This three-year starter has been ultra-productive over his career and, in his senior season, moved into a different role where he wasn’t asked to score every single time. Page put up 13.7 points and 5.3 rebounds a game while recording 2.2 steals a game. Page comes in as the top big man in the region.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>X-Factor:</strong></p> <p>The X-Factors are always tricky as there are so many players in the region that can impact the game and be difference-makers, and this region has plenty of them. It is difficult to overlook what junior forward <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ben-hageman/">[player_tooltip player_id="916987" first="Ben" last="Hageman"]</a> has been able to do putting up 18.3 points and 8.2 rebounds a game, and AJ Lacabe from Vista Peak has put 12.3 points and 6.0 rebounds a game as well. But the player in the region that can impact the region and possibly pull-off an upset is senior guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/keyshawn-maltbia/">[player_tooltip player_id="915291" first="Keyshawn" last="Maltbia"]</a> of Fountain Fort-Carson. The Trojans are up against the No.2 team in the region that is led by junior standout <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/greyson-carter/">[player_tooltip player_id="770447" first="Greyson" last="Carter"]</a>. Maltbia averaged 17.8 points a game as a volume scorer that can score in bunches, and this game he will have to take it up a notch. Maltbia should be able to have his way against the Fairview guards but will also need to get others involved as well. He will have to take care of the ball as the Knights are a team that plays solid team defense and will stay in help side.</p>