Previewing 5A's Great 8 Matchups

The Great 8 matchup in 5A is shaping up to be a classic. Some solid teams are going at it, and a terrific group has made it this far. With the weather storm, check to see if the game is on Monday or Tuesday. Here, we break down each game. <h2>George Washington v. Regis</h2> Key players to watch: George Washington -- [player_tooltip player_id="770413" first="Jarmell" last="Johnson"] – Sr., [player_tooltip player_id="916990" first="Trey" last="Edmonds"] – Sr., [player_tooltip player_id="916954" first="Kendale" last="Johnson"] – Sr., [player_tooltip player_id="770417" first="Eddie" last="McPhee"] – Sr. Regis – [player_tooltip player_id="965744" first="Blakeley" last="Stoughton"] – Sr., [player_tooltip player_id="965741" first="Michael" last="Wolf"] – Sr., [player_tooltip player_id="965745" first="Alonzo" last="Paul"] – Sr., [player_tooltip player_id="965747" first="Ty" last="Bergman"] – Sr. For the Patriots, just look at all of that senior leadership they have. This is their opportunity as it might be tough to get back in the position for a few years after this run, so they have to cherish and make the best out of it. Those seniors know what is at stake but have to want it and play for a bigger purpose. The Patriots have not played their best and still have found ways to win games because they have toughness and grit, but now it is time to lock-in. [player_tooltip player_id="770413" first="Jarmell" last="Johnson"] has to prove why he is regarded as one of the top players in the state. He cannot have moments where he disappears; the team goes as he goes. [player_tooltip player_id="916954" first="Kendale" last="Johnson"] has found a bit of a rhythm, so, hone that skill and take over in games with his size and versatility. McPhee must stand out as well and be a two-way option. His defense will be the most important aspect of the game. Edmonds and [player_tooltip player_id="918905" first="Kijuan" last="Thompson"] held down the fort on the defensive end in their win against Mullen, but who else will assist them in doing so. Defense will surely be the deciding factor as they’re up against a team trying and pushing it. The Raiders came out and blitzed an outstanding Doherty team in their Sweet 16 win as they looked like the No.1 team in the state in their last game. The Raiders are on a mission and are annihilating teams on their way. Stoughton and Wolf’s duo is years in the making and is taking center stage in their high school biggest moment. Both players are shooting lights out and scoring at will, which is leading the way but is up against a Patriots team that does not care about how they looked before; they are ready for the moment. The Raiders counter with a solid group of players that all can erupt at any given moment and have a few players who don’t get discussed enough to star at any other team in the state. That bunch is deep and will be ready. What it boils down to: Defense, defense, defense. Both teams like to get out and run, and I expect a high-scoring game, but who can come up with more stops early will tell the game. Both teams like to play with a lead, so getting off to a hot-start will be crucial. Whoever gets shots to fall from outside will also determine the game as the Patriots are a team that competes and plays hard no matter the competition, and Regis executes. I am beyond excited about this game on Tuesday. <h2>Chaparral v. ThunderRidge</h2> Key players to watch: Chaparral -- [player_tooltip player_id="1080835" first="Joel" last="Speckman"] – Jr., [player_tooltip player_id="759289" first="Luke" last="Williams"] – Jr., [player_tooltip player_id="965763" first="Braden" last="Boley"] – Sr. T-Ridge – [player_tooltip player_id="916957" first="Nolan" last="Marold"] – Sr., [player_tooltip player_id="918919" first="Joey" last="Bilello"] – Jr., [player_tooltip player_id="618859" first="Jackson" last="Brennan"] – Jr., [player_tooltip player_id="916967" first="Garrett" last="Arnold"] – Sr. Chaparral is still a relatively young team as their core is younger players, but they have the ingredients to continue to push through because they have great coaching and play the right way. They are locked in defensively as they take matchups personally and have the personnel to match up with any team in the state because they have a team full of competitors. Their trio led the way in their 54-51 win over Fairview to keep the season alive. Speckman is highly skilled and stands out on both sides of the court. Williams puts the team in positions to win each night with his scoring and reading the defense, and Boley just might be the best role player in the state. When all three are going and aggressive, they have a chance, and against a team as talented as the Grizzlies, all will need to do the little things to pick up another win. T-Ridge has not been tested in a couple of weeks, so they have to prove it is about doing it against whoever is in front of them. They cannot have a switch. The Grizzlies are the biggest team in the state. That size overwhelms opposing teams as they have Marold, Bilello, and [player_tooltip player_id="759280" first="Zach" last="Keller"] manning the middle and making it difficult for opposing teams to get into any kind of rhythm and have [player_tooltip player_id="916966" first=" Jason" last=" Simental"], Arnold and Brennan scoring, facilitating and running the show offensively. It is tough to say who will be Thunderridge’s best player on any given night, which makes them a problem. Lately, it has been Brennan that is exploding and stepping into the scorer’s role. He’s coming off a game where he finished with 29 points, but it was Bilello before that. You just never know. The Grizzlies will want to continue to have everyone step up and continue to overwhelm opposing teams with their size. What it boils down to: Who wins the big man battle. ThunderRidge has multiple players who can compete, but Speckman will not slouch and go after anyone they throw at him. If he can hold his own down low, the Wolverines have the guards to also matchup. This is a matchup we wanted to see earlier in the season but did not get the opportunity. Both teams will be up for the challenge. <h2>Eaglecrest v. Cherry Creek</h2> Key players to watch: Eaglecrest -- [player_tooltip player_id="916953" first="Ty" last="Robinson"] – Sr., [player_tooltip player_id="1139528" first="Mostapha" last="Elmoutaouakkil"] – Jr., [player_tooltip player_id="965740" first="Adrian" last="Price"] – Sr., Jayden Washinton – Jr. Cherry Creek – [player_tooltip player_id="608058" first="Julian" last="Hammond"] – Sr., [player_tooltip player_id="770403" first="Myles" last="Purchase"] – Sr., [player_tooltip player_id="921104" first="Christian" last="Hammond"] – So., [player_tooltip player_id="1142616" first="Chase" last="Penry"] – Sr. Eaglecrest is in a groove and will look to try and play spoiler to the state’s top team. They finally got that explosive game from Robinson where he showed that he is a Division I athlete that could’ve decided on either sport. Robinson scored at will inside and was aggressive. He got inside of the defense and took over on mismatches. When he is getting downhill and attacking, the opposing team has no choice but to foul him, and he went to the charity stripe often. Robinson finished with 27 points in the game and got help from Elmoutaouakkil (20 points) as he showed off his length and athleticism. With Washington and Price protecting the paint and grabbing boards, this looks to be a complete team that can match up with anyone in the state, and now they are up against a team that they already fell to twice. You know what they say,” the third time’s the charm.” Creek did NOT have a great performance in the Sweet 16 round and escaped with a win over a prepared Smoky Hill team but did show themselves that they can and will respond when their backs are against the wall. It was a sloppy game for them where their top guys didn’t play exceptionally well, shots did not fall, and they did not take care of the ball, but players like [player_tooltip player_id="1019860" first="Asher" last="Nofziger"], [player_tooltip player_id="1142616" first="Chase" last="Penry"] and Adren Walker showed exactly why they are on the team and how all of the little things add up as they were the MVPs of the game. Don’t get me wrong, Hammond can score in his sleep and slept walker to a team-high 17 points, Purchase made some irrational decisions but made the game-winning plays when it mattered, and [player_tooltip player_id="921104" first="Christian" last="Hammond"] got his shots up and was his productive self but the work that Nofziger, Walker, and Penry did on fighting for extra plays and opportunities pushed the team to fight. The Bruins will try and get right in this game in a foe that they have grown familiar with over the years and have already played twice for the second straight game. What it boils down to: It is tough to beat a team twice in the same season, let alone three times. The focus and hunger have to stay there, and if Creek has shown anything, it is they are a mentally tough team that is playing with a chip on their shoulder. They might slack at times, but buckles down when it is needed. For Eaglecrest, they will have to capitalize on any opportunities that are given to them. If they see a window, attack it and hope that they get solid performances from their big three because if they can, they have the personnel to surprise the Bruins. This will be a good–good game. <h2>Rangeview v. Rock Canyon </h2> Key players to watch: Rangeview – [player_tooltip player_id="916972" first="Cade" last="Palmer"] – Sr., Demajio Merritt – Sr., [player_tooltip player_id="1138338" first="Devin" last="Phillio"] – Sr., [player_tooltip player_id="1138352" first="Josh" last="Wyatt"] – Sr. Rock Canyon – [player_tooltip player_id="916991" first="Nick" last="Fallin"] – Sr., [player_tooltip player_id="759285" first="Chris" last="Schlesinger"] – Jr., [player_tooltip player_id="1139553" first="Gavin" last="Hershberger"] Rock Canyon is this year’s Cinderella team that is taking the tournament by storm. They have been underdogs each time out and have come out victorious as it is a bunch that plays extremely hard and for one another. Also, their Senior sniper, [player_tooltip player_id="916991" first="Nick" last="Fallin"], is playing inspired basketball, and that has led to the wins. Fallin is coming off of a game where he put up a career-high 35-points. He went 5-9 from beyond the arc in their OT win in the Sweet 16 and has done all of the small things that his team needed. Schlesinger also stepped up and had the best night of his career with an efficient 15 points in the game and a glass-cleaner that gave his team extra scoring opportunities. Both will need to have a solid game, with Hershberger continuing to be the difference-maker. Rangeview is technically the defending champs as they have the last legitimate championship and were well on their way to repeating. The Raiders play as a complete team and are all bought in. Palmer and Wyatt take on the ball-handling duties as both are facilitators that can light it up from deep, and they have a big man tandem of Merritt and Philio that cleanup anything inside. This team has other solid players that can step in and make plays happen and refuse to be scored on, which sets the tone. All Rangeview does is win. What it boils down to: Which team comes out to a hot-start. If Rangeview gets out to a hot start, well, it was a great season for the Jaguars as they are a disciplined bunch that will not let a team back in the game, but if Rock Canyon gets out to a hot start and has Fallin knocking own everything as he has been in the other games then things get interesting and they have a real chance. I expect this to be a low-scoring game where both teams try and slow it down and grind it out.