Games to watch this upcoming week

Fun slate of games. Here is what we have as the games of the week. <h2 style="text-align: center;">Monday</h2> Green Mountain v. D’Evelyn This is a battle between two teams at the exact same place at 5-2 and is looking to form an identity and stick with it. D’Evelyn’s [player_tooltip player_id="1051473" first="DJ" last="Johnson"] is an athletic wing that gets to his spots and makes teams pay as he uses his length and size inside. He is dangerous in transition and can start the break himself. He’s at 14.1 ppg, and with the help of Luke Kjellsen (10.6 ppg), they are the only two players averaging double-digits. They will need Troy Benko, Elijah Gusmus, and Bodhi Anderson to step up as Green Mountain is a physical team with teams and forces the tempo to their liking. Green Mountain goes as [player_tooltip player_id="916981" first="Austin" last="Peterson"] goes, and the senior guard has been on a tear to begin the season. Peterson is at 17.7 points a game, which is amongst the top of the conference, and he has been getting it done in transition as he is not to be denied at the rim and stepping out and shooting the 3-ball at a 43% clip. He will show up; he just needs his teammates to follow his lead. Corbin Jantzer (9.9 ppg) and Darius Padilla (7.4 ppg) will be the X-factors. If they can get going offensively, this is a game that Green Mountain has a chance to win. Expect this to be a hard-fought game that comes down to 4th quarter execution. <h2 style="text-align: center;">Tuesday</h2> Douglas County v. Regis Jesuit Douglas County plays up to their competition and attacks opposing teams with excellent guard play and with [player_tooltip player_id="759278" first="Jaeton" last="Hackley"] as the team’s best player and do-it-all option at 19.9 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.6 rebounds a game you always feel as if you have a chance. This is a game where I expect him to show up in, but the Huskies ONLY have a chance to get help from others. [player_tooltip player_id="1029180" first="Keegan" last="Phillips"] has started a bit slow but has seemed to start to find his footing but will have to look like the Keegan that showed up in the summer. Phillips was one of the summer darlings as he just came out and played, didn’t overthink things, and let the game come to him. Regis has a squad with decent size and an excellent wing, so this will be a battle where Douglas County needs those two plus [player_tooltip player_id="918915" first="AJ" last="Jackson"] to knock down shots, take their individual matchups personally and fight. Regis is loaded. That is a team that we were on heading into the season, and they have proved to be one of the top teams in the entire state as they have excellent guard play and appear to be a team that plays for one another. They can certainly score as they have four players averaging double-digits in [player_tooltip player_id="965744" first="Blakeley" last="Stoughton"] (18.7 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="965741" first="Michael" last="Wolf"] (15.8 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="965809" first="Kyle" last="Sandler"] (15.5 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="965745" first="Alonzo" last="Paul"] (12.3 ppg). The Raiders ability to shoot the ball and attack and are a team that scores with ease. There is no drop off after their top two players, and on any night, you will get a new top scorer. Unsure how you take anything away from the Raiders as they have the speed and size to dominate in man-to-man and don’t dare zone them. Just hope that they miss shots. <h2 style="text-align: center;">Wednesday</h2> Mead v. Windsor Mead's big streak is currently on, which is the second-longest streak in the state, might finally have a chance to fall, and what a battle it will be. The No.1 team in 4A v. the No.2 team in 4A and maybe a preview at the state championship. Mead is a team that is building something special over there, and with their stars being underclassman is set up for now and the future. They are led by speedy sharpshooter [player_tooltip player_id="918902" first="Elijah" last="Knudsen"] who has pushed his points up to 17.2 ppg (a team-high) while also progressing as a point guard with range. [player_tooltip player_id="918899" first="James" last="Shiers"] has been the biggest surprise of the early season. His game has jumped as he is at a near double-double of 15.8 points and 9.4 rebounds a game. If he can get himself going on the block, he is the X-factor that brings an element that Windsor does not have much of; size. Shiers is a skilled 7-footer with talent and is starting to step into his body. [player_tooltip player_id="921097" first="Nick" last="Basson"] (11.8 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="1047506" first="Will" last="Tenore"] (6.3 ppg) and Corby Tecu (4.0 ppg) will have to step up and be the difference as Windsor will try their best to take away Shiers and Knudsen. They have the ability to win the game for the Mavericks and be the most valuable players for the night. Windsor has it all over there and is a tenacious bunch that pressures the opposing team for the entirety of the game. They have the advantage with guard play against essentially every team in the state regardless of class and with [player_tooltip player_id="966339" first="Jaden" last="Kennis"] (19.5 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="916987" first="Ben" last="Hageman"] (19.7 ppg & 7.0 rpg) leading the way, it becomes easy for players like Kobe Greene (14.3 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="972414" first="David" last="Hageman"] (12.0 ppg) to navigate with much of the attention on the Wizards best two players. They take advantage. Windsor knows how to win games, and although they do not have size, they are not a team that lacks in the toughness department. They force the issue, score in transition, and are a cohesive unit that takes away the team's biggest strengths. This will be the 4A game of the regular season. <h2 style="text-align: center;">Thursday</h2> George Washington v. Chaparral The Patriots are at the best part of their schedule and will be challenged all week. I appreciate the out of conference competition as it will prepare them for what they will see in the state championship. The Patriots have bad taste in their mouth after a double OT loss to in-conference rival Denver East and are ready to get back to playing. GW is led by their senior trio of [player_tooltip player_id="770413" first="Jarmell" last="Johnson"] who is averaging 23 points a game, [player_tooltip player_id="916990" first="Fred" last="Edmonds"] (10.7 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="770417" first="Eddie" last="McPhee"] (10.3 ppg). They also have a solid supporting cast with [player_tooltip player_id="916954" first="Kendale" last="Johnson"] (8.8 ppg), Garret Brown (8.8 ppg) and a defensive duo of [player_tooltip player_id="770429" first="Cheick" last="Kouyate"] and [player_tooltip player_id="916978" first="Darrian" last="Hammons"] that are ready to get after the Chaparral guards and this will be a game of balance. The Wolverines have a very balanced group and the perfect inside-out balance led by junior big man Joel Speckman, averaging a double-double of 15.2 ppg and 10.0 rpg. He is the inside presence that cannot be denied at the rim and can put it on the floor and step out to open up the offense with [player_tooltip player_id="759289" first="Luke" last="Williams"] doing everything in between. Williams is a guard that has elevated his game with his switch to 5A and scores at will. He has a very mature game and a high IQ. He understands how to run the offense, deflect to the hot-man, and apply himself defensively. He’s the team leading scorer at 15.7 ppg, and this will be a game where he further proves himself as one of the top guards in the state. I am excited to see the trio of Speckman, Williams, and [player_tooltip player_id="965763" first="Braden" last="Boley"] in this one as they are a top-10 team going against another Top-10 team. Expect fireworks.