Games the Weekend: Week 8

<p>Truly, what a week, what a wonderful week of basketball as we had some intense games. There were REAL upsets this week, there were buzzer-beaters and even controversial calls to decide a game but a good week of action nonetheless. Now we focus on the games of the weekend for Week 8. Here is what we have deemed as games of the weekend. </p> <p><em><strong>Fairview v. Broomfield </strong></em></p> <p>Due to the weather, there will be cancelations to all of the games in the Denver-Metro area and even beyond but one game that I do believe will still go on is a Front Range battle between two schools that have been going at it that is both having relatively well seasons. </p> <p>Broomfield has a 6'8 big man Ryan Collins that has demanded attention with the type of season that he is having. He is averaging 15.8 points a game but is coming off of a career-high game where he put up 38 points. He's also averaging 10.1 rebounds a game and is a player that should be on radars. Alongside him is <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/grant-swenson/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/grant-swenson/">Grant Swenson</a></a> who is averaging 13.9 points a game. They make a dynamic scoring duo and will need Carson Briggs to bring his scoring and good decision making against a team that will test them. </p> <p>On the other side is Fairview who has also been having a great season. They have had a strong schedule and junior wing Greysen Carter has been on a tear. He is up to 17.7 points and 7.6 rebounds a game and continues to be a force inside and out. He also has a solid cast of <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jalen-page/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jalen-page/">Jalen Page</a></a>(12.2 ppg), Grant Page (8.3 ppg) and TJ Williams (7.6 ppg) helping in the scoring department and a solid point guard in Mark O'Neill also helping keep the team together. This team plays the right way and is deep. </p> <p>Expect this to be a game where Broomfield challenges Fairview and makes it a game late. Fairview will have to execute defensively if they want to pull away. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Monarch v. Boulder </strong></em></p> <p>Another game that will not be canceled is Monarch and Boulder. </p> <p>Boulder has reeled off nine straight wins and is in as much of a rhythm as any team in the state. Seniors <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/caleb-wehmuller/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/caleb-wehmuller/">Caleb Wehmuller</a></a> (10.8 ppg) and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tyler-turner/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tyler-turner/">Tyler Turner</a></a> (10.2 ppg) have been scoring factors for Boulder but they have received additional contributions from Pete Boyle who is a scoring threat that boards heavy, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jimmy-starry/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jimmy-starry/">Jimmy Starry</a></a> can score in bunches and is a microwave type of player and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/drake-arthur/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/drake-arthur/">Drake Arthur</a></a> and Giles Schmid are X-factors that give their all. This Boulder team is a pretty balanced group that plays well together. </p> <p>Monarch on the flip side has been middle of the pack but has relied on junior Sam Carlsen (11.3 ppg), Matt Chen (9.6 ppg) and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ethan-henderson/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ethan-henderson/">Ethan Henderson</a></a> (8.4 ppg) to lead the way. They are getting into a zone and starting to play well together but have another gear that they could get to, this is the time to prove that they belong and are a team that is better than their record says. </p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Saturday</strong></h3> <p><em><strong>Chaparral v. Ponderosa  </strong></em></p> <p>First of all, there has been some good trash talking this week via social media. This will be a fun one. Chaparral is 13-6 on the season and has dropped out of the top-10 but make no mistake about it, when they are on, they are on and can go at it with anybody. They are led by <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kobe-sanders/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kobe-sanders/">Kobe Sanders</a></a> (19.9 ppg) and he has a solid bunch around him as <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/aaron-jacob/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/aaron-jacob/">Aaron Jacob</a></a> (9.9 ppg) is a bigger guy that can space the floor and shoot it, he has a floor general in <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jeremiah-coleman/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jeremiah-coleman/">Jeremiah Coleman</a></a> (10.5 ppg) who is only a sophomore but gives guard relief to Sanders and then there are players like <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/keaton-crockett/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/keaton-crockett/">Keaton Crockett</a></a> and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/joel-speckman/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/joel-speckman/">Joel Speckman</a></a> II that can get going at any moment. This Chaparral team will have a lot to prove and will try and make it a point to come out with a bang with all that Ponderosa has been doing this week. </p> <p>Ponderosa has been having a mediocre season, but are a team that you always have to take serious.  They will come out with a ton of energy, they will have a live crowd. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/gabe-mcdevitt/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/gabe-mcdevitt/">Gabe McDevitt</a></a> is putting up 16.3 points and 4.3 rebounds a game and is a force that has been consistent all season long. He brings it no matter who it is they are up against and will be asked to lead the team in a highly entertaining game. Alongside him is Luke Bille and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/austin-valdez/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/austin-valdez/">Austin Valdez</a></a> who are both capable of having a big night and with how their student section has talked, they will have to show up. </p> <p>Expect <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kobe-sanders/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kobe-sanders/">Kobe Sanders</a></a> to have himself a day, but Ponderosa to keep it close. </p> <p><em><strong>Lutheran v. Jefferson Academy </strong></em></p> <p>Lutheran is the No. 2 team in 3A and is looking to stay on their rampage when they go up against Jefferson Academy. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/baye-fall/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/baye-fall/">Baye Fall</a></a>, of course, is the player to watch in this one as the freshman is one of the best in the entire state. He is at 21.2 points a game and also is putting up 10.8 rebounds a game. He has the best ceiling in the state by far and is leading the pack. He has a very solid group of Mamadou Sow(11.7 ppg) and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tommy-apodaca/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tommy-apodaca/">Tommy Apodaca</a></a> (7.9 apg) that is ready to keep showing why they are one of the top teams in the state and are destroying all teams that come their way. </p> <p>Jefferson Academy is on the outside looking in but feels that they are a Top-10 team. This is their chance to prove it. Elian Soto is putting up 22.0 ppg and is carrying the team to win after win. They have a group that buys in and knows their role and with Ethan Livingston grabbing every board that comes his way with Justin Gordon and Dylan Beck having good games every now and then this is a team that can compete. </p> <p>This will be a challenge for Jefferson Academy that they should be up for but just another day in the office for Lutheran. Expect a bunch of <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/baye-fall/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/baye-fall/">Baye Fall</a></a>. </p>