3A's Great 8 Matchups

The Great 8 matchup in 3A is one of the very best teams in the class. Other than Manual, who has found their footing, each team that is still remaining has less than two losses on the year and are all dangerous in their own right. But who will take it home? Here, I focus on each matchup. <h2>Aspen v. Sterling</h2> Key players to watch: Shae Korpela, Braden Korpela, Porter Lee Aspen: The Skiers are good now, so imagine them in the year with a team full of seniors. They have a solid junior class that all come together for the common goal and have been playing exceptionally well as of late. In their OT win over Faith Christian, the Korpela brothers led the way, shooting open shots, pressing the issue, and trying to make things happen. They combined for 31 points, and Lee provided a spark as well. Those three will have to step up on both ends of the floor again if they plan on beating a team that can light it up on any given night. Sterling: [player_tooltip player_id="618870" first="Jackson" last="Keil"], Tucker Myers, Owen Szabo Sterling has won 14 straight games since falling in their first game and, for the most part, has cruised along the way. They are led by junior do-it-all combo-guard [player_tooltip player_id="618870" first="Jackson" last="Keil"] and he has been difficult for opposing teams to slow down. Keil scores both inside and out, can break a defender down off of the dribble, and create on his own. He’s also a facilitator that gets others involved but has that “It” factor. He’s been getting help from Myers lately, who has a good feel for the game and knows where to be on the floor, and Szabo has been the team's role player. Can pencil in Keil for a big game as he shows up each time out, but who will join him? What it boils down to: Keil. If they can stop him, then they have a chance; if not, then look back at the season that was. Sterling is used to playing in big games and knows how to win. They will be prepared, so it will be about executing the game plan of slowing him down and every guy showing up for Aspen. This’ll be a close one. <h2>Lutheran v. Manual</h2> Key players to watch: Lutheran: [player_tooltip player_id="921100" first="Baye" last="Fall"], [player_tooltip player_id="965758" first="Mamadou" last="Sow"], Sam Hoops, [player_tooltip player_id="1150504" first="Brendan" last="Kooeinga"], Lutheran: They have the No.4 ranked player in the country for the 2023 class and arguably the best shot-blocker as well in Fall, and he has been as good as advertised. He does not slow down, has an incredible motor, and competes harder than anyone in the state. He will likely be the 3A player of the year and is dominating on both ends of the floor and will go into another big game where his team will need him at his best. Fall will alter the game with his defense but will it be Hoops, Sow, or [player_tooltip player_id="916960" first="Tommy" last="Apodaca"] that steps up with him. Lutheran will go in the game as favorites, but they know what kind of team they are up against in a scrappy Manual team. Kooeinga will be the X-factor in a game and is a player that more people should look at. Manual: [player_tooltip player_id="618880" first="Jordan" last="Reed"], [player_tooltip player_id="965961" first="Abel" last="Maes"], Jaylin Janes, [player_tooltip player_id="917022" first="Lovelle" last="Marble"] Everyone knows that the ThunderBolts are going to be ready when it's time for the big game. Coach Omar has his team ready, no matter who he has, and they have been getting back to the powerhouse days where you can pencil them in for a Great 8 appearance every year. They lost a ton from last year's team but still are showing up when it matters, and it starts with [player_tooltip player_id="618880" first="Jordan" last="Reed"]. The smooth lefty scores with ease and creates for others, and Maes has been knocking it down with him. That tandem has been too much for teams and will have to pick up right where they left off. Marble has been a creator with the ball in his hands. He’s creative and a tough cover, and Jones has that Manual toughness instilled in him. The Thunderbolts are NEVER an easy out. What it boils down to: Who wants it more. These are two teams that play extremely hard and rely heavily on their top players. Lutheran has the size and star player in Baye who demands double teams and will not let layups happen at the rim against a Manual team that is not afraid of him in the slightest. Whoever can get out in transition and score will win the game as this should be a high-scoring affair. <h2>Colorado Academy v. Manitou Springs</h2> Colorado Academy: Elliot Cravits, [player_tooltip player_id="1050954" first="Abhil" last="Woldeyohannes"] Colorado Academy is led by two Pro Skills players that had a solid summer and took their momentum into the season and are the only two Mustang averaging in double figures. We were bullish on Cravitz this summer as a player that would explode on the scene as he is arguably the fastest player in 3A with a basketball in his hands. He can shoot the 3-ball and is a confident scorer that does not turn down open looks. Abhil is a wing that does all of the small things and plays at his own pace. He scores both inside and out, is always in the mix, and has a nose for making plays. This’ll be a game they have to lock in against a team that matches up well against them. Manitou: [player_tooltip player_id="1043307" first="Isaiah" last="Thomas"], [player_tooltip player_id="965751" first="Joah" last="Armour"], Caleb Allen Manitou Springs is one of the deeper teams in 3A with their go-to guys but is difficult to prepare for because on any given night, it could be 1 of 5 guys who stand out. That’s when a team is dangerous. Thomas has been their workhorse this season and is a player that we saw play at underground runs and understood he would be a breakout candidate this year. Thomas has been all of that and more as he has his Manitou team at 14-1 on the season as he’s putting up 13.9 points a game. His running mate, Armour, has been picking up the pieces as well and doing what is needed. They both provide size and battle on the defensive end. When they are on, they are one of the better teams in the state as they have no quit in them. Allen and sophomore John Maynard have also been important pieces for the team and will look to advance on the backs of their defense. What it boils down to: Does Colorado Academy have enough pieces? We know that their two best players will stand out and try and push the pace. They score in bunches and can light up the scoreboard but will anyone else help them? Manitou is deep and even has a solid bench that comes in and gets after it. Colorado Academy has to get off to a quick start, or it could get ugly. <h2>St. Mary’s v. Englewood</h2> Key players to watch: St. Mary’s: [player_tooltip player_id="918901" first="Sam" last="Howery"], [player_tooltip player_id="1050942" first="Luke" last="Stockelman"], [player_tooltip player_id="1137807" first="Max" last="Howery"] The Pirates have been on a tear and come into the game as the No.1 team in 3A. They attack every team from start to finish and have been blowing teams out along the way. [player_tooltip player_id="918901" first="Sam" last="Howery"] has been a magician with the ball and has been having triple-double after triple-double. He sees the floor extremely well, tricks defenses with no-look passes, and pushes the pace. There isn’t much he cannot do on the floor, and opposing teams cannot slow him down. His brother Max can light up the scoreboard, and Stockelman has been as consistent as they come and has erupted from time to time. This St Mary’s team is a swarming bunch. That get after it and have put up some massive numbers along the way. Expect another big one. Englewood: [player_tooltip player_id="965757" first="Nate" last="Gravagno"], Hunter Johnson, Gunner Johnson Englewood has been the surprising team in 3A this season that has been on a mission to win it all and has kept pushing towards their goal nightly. They have a bunch centered around Gravagno, who has been one of the consistent players over the years and knows how to put the ball in the basket. With much of the attention surrounding him, he has brothers Hunter and Gunner, who feed off each other and read what the defense is giving them. All three of those guys have been excellent this season but will have to be near perfect to take down the No.1 team in the class. All three have to lock in defensively while having a monster game offensively. If Englewood comes out a bit slow, this is a game they could be blow out in, so attention to detail will have to be on display. What it boils down to: This is a battle of the mascots, so who will come out as the top Pirate? Englewood is a huge underdog in the game and has to be flawless. Not only do they have to be perfect defensively, but muster up the energy to also score with a team that controls the pace every time out. Howery brothers will be a lot to handle and are unselfish. So bottling those up and slowing down the others will be important, or they will find themselves in a situation where they are blown out. I am going with St. Mary’s to advance in this one by a wide margin, but I would not be too shocked if Englewood made it a game.