Sizzling showdowns to watch this weekend

<p>Apparently, this weekend, there’s a big game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the defending champs, the Kansas City Chiefs, and everyone is excited about it. While our excitement is also geared towards the big game, there is also basketball to be played, and it should set up nicely to have a jam-packed sports-filled weekend. Here are games to look forward to.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: 36pt;">______Friday night blue’s______</span></strong></h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Lewis-Palmer v. Doherty is a game that I will surely have my eyes on, but two fascinating games are these two teams.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Eaglecrest v. Fossil Ridge</strong></span></h2> <p>Eaglecrest has only played one game due to COVID, but in that game, they were able to show that they are still a team that must be taken seriously, and they have the pieces to compete for a state title. Eaglecrest got a league win over Grandview, and they went through their big guy to lead the way. [player_tooltip player_id="965740" first="Adrian" last="Price"] had a game-high 18-points and was a force on the block. Price uses his size and strength to back defenders down and is not denied at the rim. With [player_tooltip player_id="916953" first="Ty" last="Robinson"] alongside him, they make up a dangerous frontcourt with size that might give Fossil Ridge issues.</p> <p>Fossil Ridge is off to a 3-0 start and despite junior combo-guard [player_tooltip player_id="759281" first="Brock" last="Mishak"] averaging 23 points and six rebounds have done it as a complete unit. Senior guard/wing [player_tooltip player_id="770404" first="Tyce" last="Baldwin"] (16.0 ppg and 5.0 rpg) has been able to get out in the front court and show off his speed and athleticism, [player_tooltip player_id="916977" first="Luke" last="Yoder"] (10.7 ppg) has had the ball in his hands and made the right plays and big man [player_tooltip player_id="917018" first="Braiden" last="Dishman"] (11.7 ppg &amp; 5.0 rpg) has been the force inside. Fossil Ridge appears to have a complete team and will be tested, so I am excited to see how they respond.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Rocky Mountain v. Fairview</strong></span></h2> <p>The Lobos are 1-2 on the season, but it is not due to a lack of effort. They have a heartbreaking one-point loss and went up a Fossil Ridge team that matched up perfectly against them. Now they face another team that matches their size and athleticism in Fairview that knows how to win. Rocky Mountain has been led by junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="918906" first="Aidan" last="Kuhl"] once again, who has been a bit down this season compared to last, and it is due to the respect opposing teams have for him. Kuhl is seeing double teams and having to navigate through that. He is remaining aggressive and still putting up 16.5 ppg while trying to turn defense into offense. Alongside him has been Hudson Radcliff (14.3 ppg) a off-ball guard that knows where to be on the floor. 6’6 sophomore Charlie Dortch (11.7 ppg &amp; 5.3 rpg) will be the most important player in the game and if he delivers, the Lobos have a chance.</p> <p>Fairview has lost to two teams in the Top-10 and have struggled to find their footing. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="770447" first="Greyson" last="Carter"] (19.0 ppg) has had it going offensively, but the Knights have struggled to get him into his spots like last season. Senior guard TJ Williams (10.7 ppg) has had the ball in his hands and has been better as a facilitator, but Fairview will need him to step up and play to his calling. The team will rely on him and [player_tooltip player_id="965807" first="Grant" last="Page"] (9.3 ppg) to make plays happen for others, and that will give Carter and Brody Pinto (9.3 ppg) some wiggle room.</p> <p>That'll be a fun game.  </p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 36pt;"><strong>----------Saturday---------</strong></span></h2> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Silver Creek v. Longmont</strong></span></h2> <p>This is a battle of the unbeaten as both teams are 3-0 to begin the year and have both stood out in their games.</p> <p>This game will set up a tough streak of games for Silver Creek as they battle it out with teams in the Top-15 for the next week or two. Finding the right footing and starting with a win against a top team in 4A will be beneficial to their success. The Raptors are led by junior [player_tooltip player_id="918928" first="Andrew" last="Scott"] (17.3 ppg) and Karson Hill (13.3 ppg), who are offensive weapons and offer versatility. If Silver Creek can get them going early with forward [player_tooltip player_id="966479" first="Tanner" last="Call"] (9.3 ppg &amp; 10.7 rpg) doing what he has to do inside, this will be a game where the Raptors can pull off an upset. If not, they will be in for a long day.</p> <p>Longmont is led by [player_tooltip player_id="965739" first="Eddie" last="Kurjak"] (15.3 ppg) and Keegan Patterson (17.0 ppg). We knew what to expect from Kurjak this season, and his battle against Call will be a fun one as both players attack the board and are relentless on the block, but Patterson came in as a bit of a surprise, and it will be exciting to see him against a team that matches up well with him. Both teams will rely on their star players to lead the way and will likely have to score in the halfcourt set. Whichever team executes in the halfcourt sets and gets a nice showing from their defense will win the game, and I will go out on a limb and say this one comes down to the final minute of the game.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Regis v. Lutheran</strong></span></h2> <p>Regis and ThunderRidge is a game that I was surely looking forward to and had circled heading into the season, but life happens. There are still things to be excited for as the 3-0 Raiders found a formidable foe in the 3A #1 team, Lutheran.</p> <p>Regis has got out and run and done it in a different way than we’re accustomed to. That’s only led to big scoring nights from a very talented bunch. Senior’s Blakely Stoughton (18.0 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="965745" first="Alonzo" last="Paul"] (14.5 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="965741" first="Michael" last="Wolf"] (13.0 ppg) have been on a tear and giving opposing guards nightmares. They can shoot the ball, get inside of the defense and present one of the most dangerous scoring trios in the backcourt in the state with two-way standout sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="965809" first="Kyle" last="Sandler"], scoring (15.5 ppg), rebounding (6.5 rpg) and finding the open man (3.0 apg). This team is very deep and dangerous, and when it is all clicking, there are not going to be many teams that can match up with them.</p> <p>Lutheran has not looked like the team that we expected, and a reason for that is; they have not been a full team just yet. They were missing their best player and nationally ranked big man, [player_tooltip player_id="921100" first="Baye" last="Fall"] for the first couple of games, and then he just returned in their 59-50 over Faith Christian but did not get to close out the game due to foul trouble. The Lions found a way to win without their big guy and best player but cannot afford to have that happen against a team as good as the Raiders, or it will be a LOOOONNNGG day. Fall will have to be his usual and dominant self. [player_tooltip player_id="965758" first="Mamadou" last="Sow"] will have to provide a spark and guards Sam Hoops and [player_tooltip player_id="916960" first="Tommy" last="Apodaca"] will have to elevate their games as this will be no walk in the park.</p> <p>I am excited for this game as it will tell us a lot about the disparity between the classes and the teams' differences, and this is a game where both teams will try and play up in, so I am expecting plenty of plays to be made.</p>