5A State Playoffs: Kent Smith Region Round I

<p>The playoffs are finally <a href="https://chsaanow.com/2020-02-23/5a-boys-basketball-state-tournament-bracket-2020/">here</a> after such a great season, so now we turn our attention to the postseason.</p> <p>There are four quadrants with some very tough matchups, but here we focus on the Kent Smith quadrant, which might be the best region in the tournament with some multiple teams that have a chance of winning it all.</p> <p>Here’s a look at the Kent Smith Region.</p> <p><strong>Favorite: Cherry Creek, Grandview </strong></p> <p>The top two teams in the region are Cherry Creek and Grandview, which is unfortunate as these two just went against each other for the Centennial League championship. Cherry Creek ended up winning the conference as they have been one of the hottest teams in the entire state. They have won 13 of their last 15 games, and that is while playing in the toughest conference in the state. Junior standout <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/julian-hammond/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/julian-hammond/">Julian Hammond</a></a> has looked like one of the top players in the entire state in the past month or so. He is averaging 22.5 points a game and surpassed the 1,000 points scored in the final game of the regular season and is a player that I expect him to be named onto the All-Tournament team. He is rebounding well and has also become one of the better perimeter defenders in the state, and there are not many players that can slow him down. Alongside him is <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/myles-purchase/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/myles-purchase/">Myles Purchase</a></a> (13.7 ppg) and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sebastian-cole/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sebastian-cole/">Sebastian Cole</a></a> (10.4 ppg), who make up for a top-3 backcourt in the state. The trio gives opposing teams fits on both ends of the floor and will all be ready to prove what makes them different. This team has a chance to win it all.</p> <p>Grandview is one of the only teams to beat Cherry Creek when the Bruins were at full strength and also have been playing solid basketball despite only having two players that are averaging in double figures. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/caleb-mcgill/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/caleb-mcgill/">Caleb McGill</a></a> (17.4 ppg) is the most skilled big man in the state. He is an agile 6’7 forward with range that possesses the ability to blow by defenders with the handle and also space the floor with his outside jump shot. He and Lian Ramiro (15.5 ppg) have been a dynamic duo. Ramiro can score off of the dribble and create for his own. He can also come off of the screen for a jumper as well as find the open man. He has seen his game elevate this season as the big man that is going to UC-Davis and the Colorado State-Pueblo guard have done everything in their power to win games. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tanner-holtman/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tanner-holtman/">Tanner Holtman</a></a> and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cj-thomas-2/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cj-thomas-2/">CJ Thomas</a></a> will have to be different. They will have to continue to star in their roles but also must step out of their comfort zone and do more. Rather that is diving for more loose balls, setting up for more charges or boxing out an extra person – they will have to be more.</p> <p>Both of these teams truly can take it all home.</p> <p><strong>Contenders: Denver East, Pine Creek</strong></p> <p>Denver East is coming off of a loss to close out the season, which saw them drop a few sots and end up in this region, but this young and talented bunch can play with the best of them. The Angels have a 3-headed monster of <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/boston-stanton/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/boston-stanton/">Boston Stanton</a></a> (21.3 ppg), <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/langston-reynolds/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/langston-reynolds/">Langston Reynolds</a></a> (18.3 ppg), and Quis Davis (10.6 ppg) that are all underclassmen with high upside and can change the outcome of the game. There has been little to no times that they have all come on at the same time but now is the time as Stanton can beat a team both inside and out, Reynolds gets to the lane as easy as anyone else in the state and flushes it, and Davis only continues to become a more all-around player. If <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/patrick-steed/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/patrick-steed/">Patrick Steed</a></a>, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brad-kerr/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brad-kerr/">Brad Kerr</a></a>, and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tom-connelly/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tom-connelly/">Tom Connelly</a></a> also get in on the mix, this is a team that can make a deep run. They have to trust in one another and find a way to score in the half-court set.</p> <p>Pine Creek has been the underrated bunch that has not been spoken about too often but has let their game do the talking. They come in as the No.12 seed and will be waiting for their chance to play. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/peyton-westfall/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/peyton-westfall/">Peyton Westfall</a></a> has led the way for the Eagles at 14.3 points a game as he truly spaces the floor with his shooting and creates less attention for teammates, and they thrive off of it. Kenny Pham and Cameron Horton will have to make a name for themselves here. This is their opportunity to step up and show that Pine Creek is a team to be taken seriously and has a chance to make a bit of noise.  </p> <p><strong>Who to Watch Out For: Legend  </strong></p> <p>What a tough draw it was for Legend. They already had to get out of a gauntlet of a conference where they did well in, but they are remaining in the fire. Legend has a winnable game against Legacy, but immediately after that is up against a Denver East team that matches up perfectly with them. It will be a back and forth affair as Legend is built on strong guard play and 3-point shooting with sharpshooting junior <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tanner-lamb/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tanner-lamb/">Tanner Lamb</a></a>(13.6 ppg) leading the way but 6’6 forward Garret Siebert (12.0 ppg) and true point guard Cameron Le Van (10.1 ppg) who is also battle-tested and ready to step in and lead the way. Watch out for Sean Evans and Braden Boley as well as this is a team that could get rolling all at the same time, and when they are all on the same page can cause headaches for any team in the state. Be on the lookout for the Legend boys.  </p>