Sweet 16: Chuck Williams Region Preview

<p>The season is dwindling as we are already in the Sweet 16. There are some excellent matchups with some pretty balanced teams set to play on Wednesday. Let's take a look at the regions and a breakdown of each matchup. </p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>No.2 Fairview v. No. 15 Vista Peak Prep</strong></h3> <p>Fairview is coming off of a 60-59 win over Fountain Fort-Carson that was a bit too close for comfort. The No.2 team was pushed to their limits as they barely held on in the second half but did enough to get by. That's the past; they will shake things off. Leading scorer, Greysen Carter led the Knights again as he finished with 20 points and was the only Fairview player to hit a 3-pointer in the game. He also led the team with seven rebounds and continues to bring it every single game. Sophomore guard Grant Page had one of his better games of the season and saved the day. He finished with 16 points on 5-7 shooting and was everywhere defensively. That will be called upon again. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jalen-page/">Jalen Page</a> struggled in the last game but is the difference in this one as Vista has nobody to match his size and physicality. This is a perfect bounce-back spot to get himself going as he is averaging 13.3 points and 5.3 rebounds a game. This is a balanced game where Fairview will need to get additional help scoring the ball if they plan on advancing.</p> <p>Vista Peak looked good in their 64-53 win over Windsor in the second round of the playoffs. Junior guard Jalen Carrizales led the way with 17 points, attacking the basket and getting fouled, and that opened up the rest of the Bison's offense. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/curtis-stovall/">Curtis Stovall</a> also stepped up with 11 points and a few defensive stops that ignited the Vista Peak offense with Aj Lacabe chipping in 10. Vista Peak will have to take care of the ball as Fairview pushes the pace and attempts to rattle the opposition early on with early post-ups. While Vista Peak does not have the same size, they can get out and control the pace, and I expect them to zone quite a bit, which can go either way. I expect this to be another close game for both teams that comes down to the wire.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>No.7 Chaparral v. No.10 Smoky Hill</strong></h3> <p>This is the perfect matchup. It is like reading a book.</p> <p>The No.1 point guard in the state vs. the No.1 point guard in the state. Yep, you read that right. Depending on who you ask, there is going to be a different answer, but the two have been tied throughout their high school career, and it is only fitting that they go out against each other. Smoky Hill was able to beat Chaparral in the first meeting between the two teams, but it came down to the final quarter in a back and forth affair. The Buffaloes just had a blowout win and looked like a team that will not be denied on their way to a state championship. Smoky Hill finished with 15 dunks in their win over Fossil Ridge and have shown that they can get out and run or slow it down and grind it out as well. Quentin Rock has had quite a season and looks like the top-scoring guard in the state right now. He is averaging 20.8 points a game, and 5.0 assists a game and is a high IQ guard that gets his teammates involved. Top junior in the state, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jalen-weaver/">Jalen Weaver</a> is alongside him and scores the basketball when he wants. He is putting up 18.8 points a game and is coming off of a game where he put up 23 points. Weaver did not miss in the game and was looking to score. That is when he is at his best. If <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/deangelo-horn/">Deangelo Horn</a> and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/anthony-harris-jr/">Anthony Harris Jr</a>. are able to get in the open court and finish with those explosive plays that ignites the offense then this is a game that Smoky Hill can win again.  </p> <p>For Chaparral, this is a game of redemption. Chap fell to the Buffaloes earlier in the season and also lost in the championship game last season so they will want to get right. The Wolverines blew out Douglas County in their last game and come in with some momentum. Leading scorer, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kobe-sanders/">Kobe Sanders</a> will be up for this matchup and will have to shoot the ball exceptionally well if they plan on winning this game. He is averaging 20.2 points a game on the year, and the unsigned senior will look to lead the way yet again. Sophomore guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jeremiah-coleman/">Jeremiah Coleman</a> is alongside him, and the youngster is a poised guard that handles pressure well and understands what the defense is throwing at him. Coleman is the X-factor in the game as Smoky Hill will try and rattle him early with different looks to see how he responds. He does not have to score a ton, but he does have to be able to counter all of the defensive looks that he gets. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/joel-speckman/">Joel Speckman</a> finished with 17 points in the second-round matchup and played well against Smoky Hill last time out. His size will be a difference as a back to the basket scorer that plays extremely hard. He will be asked to do a ton in this game.</p>