5A Playoffs: Second-round standouts

<p>There were 16 games on tap for the second round of the 5A state playoffs. With the entire season on the line, it is about which team comes out and wants it more as records and previous meetings do not matter. There were standout performers on Saturday that made a difference in the game. Here is who stood out.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/amondo-miller/">[player_tooltip player_id="770409" first="Amondo" last="Miller"]</a> – Valor Christian</strong></p> <p>The junior led the team to a victory in a tight one. Valor won 65-61 over Rocky Mountain, and it was Miller that led the way as he scored 17 points. Miller has been great this year and has been a stock booster that continues to rise to the occasion. He scores, rebounds, and defends at a high level, and it was all on display in the second round. Miller opened up the defense as he hit two 3-pointers and also secured five rebounds. Him getting hot early in the got the rest of the team involved as he was a catalyst for a couple of runs. Valor Christian will continue to lean on him despite being a deep bunch, and it was another excellent game for Miller.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/obi-agbim/">[player_tooltip player_id="915299" first="Obi" last="Agbim"]</a> – Rangeview</strong></p> <p>This was a game that we went to on the day, and there were some highlight plays for the Raiders as the defending champs showed why they again are the favorites. The leading scorer for Rangeview took over in this game as he put up a game-high 25 points. Not only did he take over in the game again, but it came easy. Agbim was ultra-efficient going 9-12 from the field and also went an impressive 5-6 from beyond the arc. When he is sinking 3-pointers but also getting into the lane with his explosive athleticism, he becomes tough to contain. He not only led the game in points but was the leading assist-man as well. There was nothing that Arvada West could do to slow him down.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/luke-obrien/">[player_tooltip player_id="915287" first="Luke" last="O’Brien"]</a> – Columbine</strong></p> <p>The frontrunner for the 5A player of the year had him another impressive game, and this time it came in the playoffs, where his team needed him most. Against a talented Dakota Ridge team that was playing their best basketball of the season, the University of Colorado commit put on a show. O’Brien stepped up to the challenge as he finished with a game-high 27 points on the day, and while his shot was not falling, he still found ways to impact the game. O’Brien hit three 3-pointers in the game, and with the different looks, he was getting missed some chip shots at the rim. But he stayed aggressive. Columbine’s best player went to the paint and kept getting fouled as he went 12-13 from the FT line. He had 16 rebounds and seven assists while also being the difference-maker defensively finishing with two steals and two blocks. O’Brien showed why he is a top-5 player in the state, and with him leading the way, the Rebels season keeps rolling.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/rhys-pulling/">[player_tooltip player_id="915317" first="Rhys" last="Pulling"]</a> – Mountain Vista</strong></p> <p>Senior guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/rhys-pulling/">[player_tooltip player_id="915317" first="Rhys" last="Pulling"]</a> is one of the better all-around glue guys in the state that does not specialize in one particular thing but brings a bit of everything to the table. Well, in Mountain Vista’s second-round win against Chatfield, he took on the scorer’s role. Pulling averages nine points a game for the season while also helping out on the boards and dishing as well. In Saturday’s game, he exploded for 17 points on 7-10 shooting from the field. He had his outside shot working, got to the lane, and also had to be fouled. He was assertive and everywhere on the court. He was one of four Golden Eagles to finish in double figures, and when he is playing well and providing scoring, Mountain Vista becomes even more dangerous a team.</p> <p><strong>Konner Ruth – Chaparral</strong></p> <p>Typically when there is a Chaparral game, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kobe-sanders/">[player_tooltip player_id="796267" first="Kobe" last="Sanders"]</a> is the leading scorer of the game. He still played well and finished with 17 points in the game, but senior guard Konner Ruth stole the show in this one. Ruth finished with a game-high 23 points, which was also a season and career-high as well. Before Saturday’s game, his high on the season was seven points. Well, the playoffs are where stars are born. Ruth hit seven 3-pointers in the game, and the Wolverines made sure to find their hot man as he had a few heat-check shots himself. When everything is going well for you, how could you turn a shot down? Chaparral hopes that he continues to be in a rhythm in the next round.</p> <p><strong>Michael Wolf – Regis</strong></p> <p>In unarguably, the biggest upset of the second-round with Regis beating Cherry Creek, the player of the game was junior guard Michael Wolf who played a complete game. Wolf finished with 21 points on 6-9 shooting from the field. He hit his only 3-pointer in the game and from there made it a point to get inside and dissect the Bruins defense. He got to his spots and made Cherry Creek pay, and every time that it appeared that the Bruins were going on a run, he rejected any idea of a comeback. He went 8-9 from the charity stripe and was great on the boards finishing with six and a couple that he went right back up with. Excellent team performance for the Raiders and Wolf made it happen.</p> <p><strong>Jaylen Carrizales – Vista Peak</strong></p> <p>Vista Peak’s season continues as they got by Windsor in the second round of the playoffs. Vista Peak played hard for four quarters and put together a solid second-half, which ensured the victory. Multiple players for the Bison showed up, but point guard Jaylen Carrizales was the difference in the game as he finished with 17 points in the game. Carrizales did not have to hit many field goals to be the leading scorer in the game, and that is because he used his quickness and IQ to get to the free-throw line. Windsor had no choice but to foul him as he was breaking down the defense. He also helped close things out for Vista Peak as well, and fouling him was a bad idea. He went 13-14 from the FT line and kept the ball in his hands as he knew he would help close Windsor out. He has been a reliable player all season long, and Vista Peak needed all that he provided as they advanced to the next round.</p>