5A Playoffs: X-Factors in the Kent Smith Region

The first round of the 5A state tournament is underway on Wednesday evening with 32 teams, all with the same goal in mind: to win. The is a top-heavy tournament with some upset-minded squads near the bottom that genuinely feel as if they have what it takes to bring home the gold trophy. All teams have their star players and prospects that we know will HAVE to step up if they want to advance, but what it will come down to is an effort from the entire team. This is also the time that an X-factor steps up and gives their team an advantage, so here we break down an X-factor or two from each team in the first round. To conclude the 5A portion is the Kent Smith Region. Teams with a bye: No.4 Cherry Creek, No. 13 Denver East, No.5 Grandview, No. 12 Pine Creek Regis Jesuit v. Monarch Regis is a team that some were worried about as they got off to a 0-9 start. But not me, I knew that they would find a rhythm and get back to looking like their usual self. Michael Wolf has been their most consistent player this year and he is steadily improving but heir X-factors will have to be both Alonzo Paul (9.8 ppg) and also sophomore wing Kyle Sandler. Sandler does a bit of everything as he can score the ball inside, attack the rim and get to the FT line as well as board heavy but he is also a competitor that plays with an edge. He is coming into his own as his body is evolving and he is growing into it and he understands where to be on the floor. Paul is a quick and shifty guard that does not even understand his full potential yet. He is averaging 9.8 points a game but has random spots in the season where he scored 23, 27 and even erupted for a 33-point game. When he is aggressive and not even only scoring the ball but playing with a purpose there are not many guards that can stay in front of him. Hopefully, the Raiders get a locked-in Alonzo Paul from here on out. Monarch is a team that has to be a bit excited about their season. They lost a big chunk of their offense last season and many thought it would be a full rebuild. Fast-forward until now and they are in the playoffs and ready to make a push. The X-factor in the game that I am thinking makes a difference is 6’5 forward <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ethan-henderson/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ethan-henderson/">Ethan Henderson</a></a>. Henderson has the size and skill to take over in games but is a bit inconsistent. When he is attacking and using his strength, he is putting himself and teammates in easy positions to score and it opens up the rest of the offense. He needs to get on the boards or at least put a body on defenders to open things up and also be an inside presence that Monarch needs if they plan on beating a better than seeded Regis team. Legend v. Legacy You know what you are getting from Legacy this season. A team that shoots lights out and wants to run with you for the duration of the game. We have spoken aplenty about junior sharpshooter <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tanner-lamb/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tanner-lamb/">Tanner Lamb</a></a> (13.7 ppg) and true point guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cam-le-van/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cam-le-van/">Cam Le Van</a></a> (10.5 ppg) but a player that has gone a bot under the radar but makes this team operate is their big man <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/garrett-siebert/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/garrett-siebert/">Garrett Siebert</a></a>. Siebert is a skilled 6’6 big man that not only runs the floor for easy finishes around the rim but also rebounds well. He plays extremely hard and is the enforcer for the team that allows Legend to go with small lineups and not skipping a beat. He will have to step up in the playoffs if they plan on going on a run and will be looked to do more next round. Legacy is not a high-scoring team and they are relatively young. The only player on the team that is ranked is <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/gavin-poxson/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/gavin-poxson/">Gavin Poxson</a></a> who is a guard with size that can shoot the ball and also handle pressure fr opposing teams. He calms the team down and is their emotional leader but they will need more than just him if they plan on beating a team like Legend who wants nothing more than to run them out of the gym. Mecully Suhl is who comes to mind. Suhl is the second-leading scorer on the team and is the Lightning’s primary ball-handler. He is averaging 9.7 points a game and can also set up as a spot-up shooter that knocks shots down. Against Legend, they are so guard heavy that he becomes the most important player for Legacy. He will have to make quick decisions, take care of the ball and control the tempo of the game. If he, however, tries to speed it up, it better be mistake-free as those Titan guards pounce and capitalizes. Mountain Range v. Hinkley This is an evenly matched game between two exciting teams that seem to be rising. Hinkley broke their four-year drought of not making the playoffs and are now ready to make a run. Hinkley is led by Jeremiah Warren (14.7 ppg) and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tjai-jackson/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tjai-jackson/">Tjai Jackson</a></a> (13.3 ppg) who are capable of scoring with the best of them and put their team in a position to succeed each game and will be asked to continue their scoring ways while also stepping up on the defensive end. Their X-factors in the game are senior guard Xavion Davison (9.5 ppg) and sophomore guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/taveon-long/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/taveon-long/">Taveon Long</a></a>. Davison is a quick guard that uses his speed to get to his spots. He will have to control the pace and in this situation speed it up while also applying pressure to the opposing team’s point guard. He will get different looks and will have to adapt while taking care of the ball. When he is dishing is when he is at his best and he will get plenty of lanes to get his teammates involved. Long is an off-ball guard with high-upside that just appeared on our radar. He dealt with injuries earlier this season but is now in a groove and offers the Thunder Birds a young weapon that is versatile. He is an aggressive rebounder that uses his athleticism but also gets to the rim and finishes in traffic. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/taveon-long/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/taveon-long/">Taveon Long</a></a> is a name to know moving forward as he will only get better and is an X-factor with high upside. Mountain Range is an up and down team that plays hard each night out. They also can adapt. They have won some high scoring games, they have grinded it out and come away with victories, it does not matter; they are going to compete. They do not have a ranked player on the team and rely on one another = danger. To not have a single player to key in on but to have to play man-to-man defense against a group that gets everyone involved is tough. Junior forward Connor Hindson is who I have pinged as the player to watch. He is Mountain Range’s leading scorer at 13.7 points a game and is a volume scorer that can get going in bunches. If he finds a rhythm early it is going to be a long night for Hinkley. Hindson is Mountain Range’s big man in the middle but he also can put the ball on the floor as well as start the break so it is important to match him with speed and physicality as it is a hit or be hit type of game with him. This should be a good game. Broomfield v. Brighton It is difficult to not look ahead at the Broomfield and Pine Creek matchup as Brighton is a team that you have to take seriously but that one should be fun if it happens. Broomfield has under the radar 6’9 gem Ryan Collins who is averaging 15.8 points and 10 rebounds a game and also <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/grant-swenson/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/grant-swenson/">Grant Swenson</a></a> who is putting up 14.8 points a game. They provide senior leadership and an inside-out attack that might be a bit too much for a team like Brighton to overcome. Their X-factor will have to be senior forward Carson Briggs. Briggs is the swiss-army-knife for Broomfield. He can score, pass the ball and is a great rebounder. He is a high IQ player that does plenty of things that goes unnoticed but makes the team go. Brighton is no easy out. They were able to pull off some close wins and show that they could compete. They struggled against teams that blitzed them early so they must get off to a hot and quick start. The X-factor for them is senior guard Blake Ferguson. Ferguson averaged 12.5 points a game and showed he will not back down and will play hard no matter the circumstance. He plays with energy, he is not afraid to take the shot and he is a player that will have to have an exceptional game if they plan on getting by Broomfield.