Six standouts from the opening round of the 5A state playoffs

<p>We expected some chaos in the first round of the 5A CHSAA state playoffs, but we did not expect multiple upsets, games coming down to the wire, and players to set new career-highs. But that is the beauty of March Madness. Here, we take a look at some of the top performers from the opening round. </p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="965744" first="Blakeley" last="Stoughton"] – Regis</strong></h2> <p>In Regis’s 86-60 win over Loveland in the first round of the playoffs, the Raiders leading scorer and breakout performer all season long had another astounding performance. The 6’3 wing put up a game-high 23 points on a ultra efficient night. Stoughton finished 10-13 from the field and had his way. Stoughton’s shot was falling from deep as he knocked down three 3-pointers, he carved the defense up inside and made essentially every layup attempt he had on the night and his work on the defensive side of the ball set the tone for the night. Stoughton finished with a career-high five steals and turned those into fastbreak points. He was getting others involved, filling the passing lanes correctly and a force on the boards. Great all-around effort for the senior that has Regis in the drivers seat.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="916971" first="Schafer" last="Reichart"] – Doherty</strong></h2> <p>Doherty was the first team to pull an “upset” in the 5A state tournament although it was a battle of two teams evenly matched. The Spartans went down early and it looked as if Valor Christian would run away with the game but Doherty fought to get back and executed late. Who did the Spartans rely on to close them up? Their fearless leader, [player_tooltip player_id="916971" first="Schafer" last="Reichart"] who has been their top player all season long. Reichart is a silky smooth finisher at the rim, a high IQ player that plays at his own pace and is comfortable with the ball. Reichart was ready for the moment and finished with a game-high 18 points. He knocked down shots, found holes on the perimeter and shot the gap. He is always under control and hit big shot after big shot to lead the way. He is a player that they have called upon and he has delivered all season long and in a tightly contested game did everything that they needed to advance to the next round.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="618859" first="Jackson" last="Brennan"] – Thunderridge</strong></h2> <p>The Grizzlies were without their point guard so asked for others to step up and show out and they got all that they could from junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="618859" first="Jackson" last="Brennan"] and [player_tooltip player_id="918919" first="Joey" last="Bilello"] as they both set new career-highs of 22 points in the same game. Brennan had a career-best game and still managed to do all of the small things that make him standout. Brennan is one of the best glue guys in the state and that has allowed him to succeed and remain on the court, but it was his scoring in the opening round of the playoffs that stood out. Brennan got hot from deep as he hit a few shots from beyond the arc and did not look back from there. Brennan hit five 3-pointers in the game, spaced the floor and did not give Rocky Mountain the chance to come back in the game. If his shot his falling, with the inside presence and size that the Grizzlies have, this will be the team that takes it home. Fun night from the junior swiss-army-knife.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="759278" first="Jaeton" last="Hackley"] – Douglas County</strong></h2> <p>Some may ask if it gets boring writing about [player_tooltip player_id="759278" first="Jaeton" last="Hackley"] and the simple answer is; never. He continues to shine and do all of the things that you ask for in a guard and who wouldn’t want to play with a true point that has the ability to affect the game in various ways. The junior guard finished with a double-double of 21 points and 10 assists and recorded six steals in the game. On a night that his shot was not falling he found a different way to affect the game and also get others involved. There were other key members for the Huskies that were hot and he made sure to find them. Hackley has great court awareness, remains on the attack and is always looking to make the right play and his performance in the opening round is why the team is advancing.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="770427" first="Brayden" last="Carter"] – Mullen</strong></h2> <p>Mullen had one of the suprising upsets of the first round when you look at the trajectory of the team. That is a resilient bunch that fought hard all season long and are advancing to the Sweet 16 after Carter’s performance. Carter willed his team to victory and refused to lose. Carter finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in the game.  The way that he stepped up for his team in the last two minutes of the game will be sown into my memory. Carter dominated the battered up Denver East squad and took advantage of their shortcomings. There were highlight dunks after highlight dunks, there were the two 3-pointers to close out the game and a key charge taken that sealed the victory. He made sure that his presence was felt on both ends of the floor but his ability to take over when his team needed him most was something to watch.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="918911" first="Henry" last="Gamble"] – Mountain Vista</strong></h2> <p>Mountain Vista cruised in their opening round game of the state playoffs and the reason why was the outside shooting from [player_tooltip player_id="918911" first="Henry" last="Gamble"]. Gamble was a sniper from deep as he finished 4-5 from beyond the arc and finished with 20 points in the game. His teammates understood he was hot and he did everything that he could to wiggle loose and make the defense pay. Gamble has been the Golden Eagle’s second option all season long but took center stage in their most important game of the season thus far. Gamble reads what the defense gives him, finds gaps and is always on the move. He converted every FT taken, was active on the boards and was a pest defensively as he finished with five steals in the game. This is the kind of effiecency and production that Mountain Vista will need from their standout guard and if they can get it, I expect them to continue having a chance. Solid night for him.</p>