Games of the week to conclude the regular season

<p>The playoffs are amongst us as we are looking at concluding a wild season. Most teams have a long week ahead of them, with 3-4 games this week to prepare for the playoffs. Here are a few games to watch with playoff implications. </p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Monday </strong></span></h2> <p><em><strong>ThunderRidge v. George Washington</strong></em></p> <p>T-Ridge faces off against GW for the second time this year and looks to avenge their first loss of the season.</p> <p>The Grizzlies come into this game in better shape as the first time the two faced off against eachother ThunderRidge was missing their starting point guard, Garret Arnold in the game which changed up their play style completely. He returns to action and will provide comfort and confidence as he is one of the top guards in the state. The Grizzlies will however be without one of the best players in the 2022 class in [player_tooltip player_id="759280" first="Zach" last="Keller"] which will force players like [player_tooltip player_id="916957" first="Nolan" last="Marold"] (13.7 ppg &amp; 7.9 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id="918919" first="Joey" last="Bilello"] (12.6 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="916966" first="Jason" last="Simental"] (13.0 ppg) to step up. [player_tooltip player_id="618859" first="Jackson" last="Brennan"], [player_tooltip player_id="972415" first="JJ" last="Williams"] and [player_tooltip player_id="918935" first="Mike" last="Karnisovas"] will be X-factors and have to provide a spark if they plan to come out with a different outcome against a Patriots team that plays up to their competition.</p> <p>On the George side of things, this is a group that plays with a chip on their shoulders. They have managed to cruise against bad teams and challenge top teams in the state. They have multiple wins against higher-ranked opponents, and with another win against ThunderRidge, will further showcase themselves as a title-contending team. GW has a complete squad with [player_tooltip player_id="770413" first="Jarmell" last="Johnson"] (20.6 ppg) leading the way. He scores from all three levels and has elevated his game and with [player_tooltip player_id="916990" first="Trey" last="Edmonds"] (11.1 &amp; 7.3 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="770417" first="Eddie" last="McPhee"] (9.5 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="916954" first="Kendale" last="Johnson"] (8.7 ppg) backing him then the Patriots always have a chance. I expect Coach Hammons to pull out the infamous press and trap the Grizzlies with one of the better defensive set of guards in the state.</p> <p>This will be another fun one that comes down to the wire.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Tuesday </strong></span></h2> <p><em><strong>Windsor v. Longmont</strong></em></p> <p>This is a battle between the No.1 and No.2 teams in 4A, respectfully.</p> <p>This is a game of opposites colliding as Longmont is a team that wants to go slow and have a methodical approach. They do not force shots and make sure everyone gets a touch before the shot goes up. The Trojans have been led by one of the most athletic forwards in the state, [player_tooltip player_id="965739" first="Eddie" last="Kurjak"] (18.5 ppg &amp;7.4 rpg), who has been having a stellar season and upped his game. They feed the hot man, and he is not a player that forces shots up, so others get involved. Alongside him is junior combo-guard [player_tooltip player_id="1141901" first="Keegan" last="Patterson"] (14.3 ppg) and they make a powerful 1-2 punch.</p> <p>Windsor is unique in the fact that they do not have a traditional big but have 6’2 wing [player_tooltip player_id="916987" first="Ben" last="Hageman"] (19.4 ppg &amp; 7.3 rpg) leading the way. He is undersized but has the strength and ability to defend positions 1-5. Putting him at the 5 at times allows players like [player_tooltip player_id="966339" first="Jaden" last="Kennis"] (18.4 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="1138311" first="Kobe" last="Greene"] (13.9 ppg) to get out in the open floor and start breaks as well as giving a solid passer room to operate and find pay dirt. The Wizards are a team that can match up with anyone in the state and want to prove they are one of the teams that will be there when it is all said and done and have one more bump in the road.</p> <p>The first team to 40 wins in a matchup like this.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Wednesday </strong></span></h2> <p><em><strong>Regis v. Mountain Vista</strong></em></p> <p>The Fairview v. Fossil Ridge game on this same day will be one to watch as it is a battle for the Front Range championship and is a game that you should flip back and forth to see, but the game that stands out for me as the game to watch is a battle between two teams in the Top-10.</p> <p>Mountain Vista might have the strongest schedule I have seen since coming over and watching high school basketball. They have gone against almost every team in the Top-10 and teams that have made an appearance in the Top-10, and now they are up against a Top-3 team in Regis. [player_tooltip player_id="759207" first="Ben" last="Bowen"] (19.2 ppg) has proven to be a top-3 player in the state, and the Wyoming commit has shown up big in every single game. He has dealt with double teams and any player in the state and trusted in teammates to convert and step up, and they have. He gets the best out of teammates and [player_tooltip player_id="918911" first="Henry" last="Gamble"] (9.9 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="1051098" first="Ty" last="Strawbridge"] (9.0 ppg) have not let him down. They will have to step up even more if they want to beat a team that is ready for every counter they throw at them and have been solid all season long.</p> <p>Regis is a team that has been dealing with injuries and players having to sit, and this is another game that they will not be at full strength. The Raiders will be without [player_tooltip player_id="965809" first="Kyle" last="Sandler"] and [player_tooltip player_id="965747" first="Ty" last="Bergman"] who are arguably their best two-way players. That will leave [player_tooltip player_id="965744" first="Blakeley" last="Stoughton"] (18.5 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="965741" first="Michael" last="Wolf"] (17.2 ppg) to step up even more and continue their offensive onslaught if they want a chance at winning. Guards [player_tooltip player_id="965745" first="Alonzo" last="Paul"] and [player_tooltip player_id="921101" first="Tarea" last="Fulcher"] will put the teams in positions to win and get everyone involved, and this will take a complete team effort if they plan on beating a Golden Eagles team that shows that they are going to give a team their best shot no matter what.</p>