Four games to watch in the CHSAA 4A Playoffs 1st Round

Games get started on Tuesday evening, March 9th, and there are plenty of games going around the state as it is the opening round of the CHSAA tournament. With there being 32 teams, there are plenty of games to tune into. Here are some of our favorite matchups, and make sure to get over and participate in the 4A bracket challenge found <a href="https://twitter.com/Bball_CO/status/1369161651610546176?s=20">here.</a> Windsor v. Durango Aurora Central v. Palisade Erie v. Pueblo East Pueblo South v. Thomas Jefferson Longmont v. Falcon Centaurus v. Sand Creek Pueblo Central v. Severance Evergreen v. Mountain View Mead v. Canon City Holy Family v. Grand Junction Lewis-Palmer v. Elizabeth Thompson Valley v. D’Evelyn Steamboat Springs v. Wheat Ridge Golden v. Summit Montrose v. Palmer Ridge Green Mountain v. Frederick <h3>Pueblo South vs. Thomas Jefferson</h3> This is the game to watch I this first round and will be one that comes down to the wire. It is a game that can go either way, depending on who comes out hot to begin the game. The Spartans will try and gain momentum early with their guard play. They are led by their backcourt duo of [player_tooltip player_id="916989" first="Ryan" last="Moe"] (14.0 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="965810" first="Said" last="Mobasher"] (12.4 ppg). Both of those players can light up the scoreboard at any given moment but are elite ballhandlers that can get through a press and resist pressure. They will surely have to in this game. Moe is one of the 4A top passers who has a bounce to his game, and Mobasher is a hard-working two-way player whose offense is coming to him. They both seem to be in a rhythm and will need players like Jordan Jackson, Decarlos Clark, and [player_tooltip player_id="965779" first="Armon" last="Baker"] stepping up if they want to advance. On the other side, Pueblo South is a team led by excellent guard play and has some players on their team that has been nightmare matchups for opposing teams all season long. The brother-to-brother connection of [player_tooltip player_id="618889" first="Tarrance" last="Austin"] (23.6 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="1137823" first="Maurice" last="Austin"] (11.8 ppg) has put the Colts in positions to win all season long and that is exactly what they did. Pueblo South went 12-2 on the year, and both losses were close ones to two of the top teams in the entire state, with one being a 5A school. With them now seeing what tweaks needed to be made and leaning on their backcourt duo with [player_tooltip player_id="965560" first="Ray" last="Aragon"] (12.6 ppg), this becomes one of the most difficult teams in 4A to beat and is a darkhorse favorite for me to take it home. If 4A taught us anything this year, it’s that this is a wide-open season, and everyone seems to have a chance. I like both of these teams and expect this to be fun. <h3>Pueblo Central v. Severance</h3> This game will be a fun one to watch and a way to Pueblo Central to test how themselves yet again. There will be an epic big man battle between these two teams, and whoever establishes themselves first will win it. Pueblo Central comes into the game as heavy favorites as they had the year to back it. The Wildcats went 12-2 on the year and head into the playoffs as the No.7 overall seed. They know how to win and have one of the best 1-2 punches in all of 4A. Sophomore big man [player_tooltip player_id="969431" first="Kadyn" last="Betts"] is averaging 17.5 points and 11 rebounds a game and looks like one of the best bigs in the state. He has so many intangibles to build off of but is a glass cleaning big that stays on the attack. Alongside him is senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1138301" first="Adonis" last="Reynolds"], and he’s having a season where he is doing it all. The 6’4 combo guard is filling up the stat sheet with 15.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists a game. With those two leading the way and playing well, this is a game they should cruise. Severance has a solid young big man of their self in 6’6 big man [player_tooltip player_id="1139823" first="Ty" last="Adam"], and he looks to be growing. The standout sophomore is averaging 17.7 points a game which is a team-high and amongst players in the class and 8.8 boards to go along with it. He is a player that can affect the game with his scoring but also protects and controls the paint. He is the heartbeat of the team, and the Silver Knights go as he goes. With his hands being full, Carson Fagan (13.9 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="1139986" first="Brady" last="Varney"] (11.6 ppg & 8.0 rpg) will step into a role where they will be counted on to take over. They will have to step up on both ends, take care of the ball and play out of their mind if they plan on coming out with the upset. If not, this is a season where the young group can learn and get ready for a summer that we hope to see plenty of this group. <h3>Lewis-Palmer v. Elizabeth</h3> This is a battle between the No. 4 and No. 29 team in the state, so it seems like a no-brainer, but that Elizabeth team aren’t slouches and will not just run over. Elizabeth is led by senior guard/wing [player_tooltip player_id="916980" first="Tristan" last="Smith"], and he is one of the better scorers in the entire state that has been lighting up scoreboards all season long. Smith has erupted for 25+ points six times this season, with a high of 45 points in a close win over Falcon earlier in the season. He’s been phenomenal and is a player that small schools should be all over. They will need Jason Weber (10.0 ppg) and Sam Speicher (10.0 ppg) to step up and play a nearly flawless game if they plan on beating a team as loaded and talented as Lewis-Palmer, and that might still make it a close game but should not be a team you just look past and had a solid season regardless of the outcome. For Lewis-Palmer, this is a team that is getting closer and closer to their final form. They are back healthy and are playing their best basketball of the season. With a few days off and players resting and preparing for a deep playoff push, this is a team that I think gets off to a hot start in the playoffs and does not look back. How they play in this one and get [player_tooltip player_id="965754" first="Colin" last="Westfall"] (15.0 ppg) [player_tooltip player_id="1050938" first="Noah" last="Ragsdale"] (12.0 ppg) and Cam Lowe (12.3 ppg) going offensively will only open the floor for their big men Eddie Speller Jr. (17.4 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="1138292" first="Brady" last="Jones"] (11.3 ppg). That is one of the best starting units in the entire state, and they have been inconsistent in games, so look to get right and prepare to win it all. <h3>Green Mountain v. Frederick</h3> This will be one of the more interesting games in the first round and will be an intense battle with two talented teams that leave it all out there. Whoever wins this game will stumble into the next game, battered up as this will be scrappy and close. Green Mountain has flirted with the Top-10 in 4A this year and will come into the playoffs with plenty to prove. [player_tooltip player_id="916981" first="Austin" last="Peterson"] has elevated his game and stepped up as the leader of the team at 15.4 points a game and possesses the ability to affect the game in various ways. Corbin Jantzer (8.6 ppg), Allen Ortiz (8.4 ppg), and Darius Padilla (8.0 ppg) can make their mark in the game by being their aggressive selves and playing within themselves. The Rams make teams feel it on the floor’s defensive end as they attack, attack, attack. They will need to in this one and if they do, should go home the victors. For Frederick, it is a team that has been up and down all season but has played teams tough. They’re battle-tested and have won some close ones who will prepare them for a team like Green Mountain. The Warriors have gone as [player_tooltip player_id="916993" first="Izayah" last="Elize"] has allowed them, and the senior guard has ignited the offense. He’s putting up a team-high 16.9 points a game and has opened up his game this year to make it a point to trust in teammates and get them involved as well as be active on the boards as well. That has only opened things up for other players like [player_tooltip player_id="1139409" first="Ilan" last="Marinoff"] (11.2 ppg) to elevate his game and help on the back end. They will need others like J.J Heil, A.J Hutchinson, and Jacoby Conway to be X-factors and defensive specialists in this game. Depth will be the difference-maker as Lewis-Palmer is too talented a team to allow a guy or two to beat them, so every Warrior has to step up.