4A Playoffs: Contenders and Sleepers from Quadrant 3 & 4

<p>Playoff brackets were released on Monday morning, and it was broken up into four quadrants, with 32 teams in total making the playoffs. Here, we focus on two quadrants and what teams stand out to us at first look at the CHSAA playoffs. </p> <p><em><strong>Teams in Quadrant 3: Longmont, Falcon, Centaurus, Sand Creek, Pueblo Central, Severance, Evergreen, Mountain View</strong></em></p> <h2><strong>Quadrant 3: Contender</strong></h2> <p>Longmont is the team to beat in this quadrant as the No.2 team in 4A has continued to find ways to win games. The Trojans play at their own pace and play a slow it down and grind it down game that other teams have difficulty adjusting to. All of their games are a race to 50, and most of the teams they have played have been unable to get there. Longmont is locked in defensively and sound on that end of the floor. Offensively, they know it starts and ends with athletic big man [player_tooltip player_id="965739" first="Eddie" last="Kurjak"] who they feel comfortable with throwing it down to and letting him create his own. The 6’7 big man is putting up 18.2 points a game and not allowing the opposing team any easy scoring opportunities on the other end. He is helped out by [player_tooltip player_id="1141901" first="Keegan" last="Patterson"], and they have shown up all year, why stop now. Longmont will be tested but have proved that they can get through whatever is in front of them.</p> <h2><strong>Quadrant 3: Sleeper</strong></h2> <p>Pueblo Central is more of a contender and not really a sleeper and has really looked like a contender as of late. They have one thing that other teams have struggled with; size. Pueblo Central is a team that has a talented frontcourt of [player_tooltip player_id="969431" first="Kadyn" last="Betts"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1138301" first="Adonis" last="Reynolds"] has size but Reynolds possesses the ability to put the ball on the floor and operate as well. Betts has been one of the top bigs in the state and is averaging a double-double on the season in only his sophomore season. The sky is the limit for that talented big man, but he will need his teammates and guards to step up and lead the way if they want to win. They know what they are getting out of their top two players but who else emerges out of the bunch will go a long way.</p> <p><strong><em>Teams in Quadrant 4: Steamboat Springs, Wheat Ridge, Golden, Summit, Montrose, Palmer Ridge, Green Mountain, Frederick</em></strong></p> <h2><strong>Quadrant 4: Contender</strong></h2> <p>Steamboat Springs is one of the only undefeated teams in the state and has the most to prove in this playoff run. They are 14-0 on the year but the No.6 team in the state and want to showcase why that is a mistake, and they are ready for whatever. They open up the playoffs with a good test and will look to build off of that. The Sailors have a team full of seniors that understand how to win games and what it takes to succeed. They will look for [player_tooltip player_id="1138294" first="Eric" last="Pollert"] to continue leading the way as he uses all of his 6’8 frame to score at ease and dominate down low. As his size proves to be too much for teams, having teammates like Jakob Kreissig, and [player_tooltip player_id="969440" first="Cade" last="Gedeon"] alongside him and ready to pick up everything else has them as a dangerous team ready to make their appearance to the rest of the state. I expect them to be tested from the very game but to make adjustments and go on a late push.</p> <h2><strong>Quadrant 4: Sleeper</strong></h2> <p>Golden is my sleeper pick for the Quadrant. They are a team that I was high on heading into the season despite them being so young, and it is centered around them being one of the more talented teams that do not have to rely on just one player. The Demons have depth and not much drop-off after their best player, which means something to me. Golden has had a few losses over the season, but they look to be shaping up into a solid team that just has to have a streak that starts now. Golden is led by [player_tooltip player_id="921098" first="Aliou" last="Diallo"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1139740" first="Richie" last="Pruett"] in scoring as both get to where they want on the court and feed off of one another but their best player and one of the most mature players in the class is [player_tooltip player_id="921096" first="Alan" last="Acevedo"]. Acevedo does all that the team needs, and it is often overlooked. He is the go-to player that rebounds and facilitates, and allows teammates to get open. He is also a versatile defender, so I am choosing for Golden to make a deep run. This is a solid bunch that is well-coached and will be ready to play.</p>