X-Factors to watch for in the Kent Smith Region

<p>The moment that we have all been waiting for is finally here — the 5A CHSAA high school playoffs! First-round begins this week and we get you ready for a breakdown. Here we take a look at five X-factors from the Kent Smith region. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="966479" first="Tanner" last="Call"] -- Silver Creek </strong></p> <p>Call is a player that has been standing out for Silver Creek for multiple years as a glue guy but has now stepped up for Silver Creek and is the No.21 seeded teams best rebounder and defender He is averaging 4.5 rebounds a game and will have to take over down there and limit second-chance points against a Fort Collins team that matches him in size. The 6’4 senior is as lock down as it gets and they will need him on that side of the court to be the MVP of their game against Fort Collins in the first round of the playoffs. He will have to bring energy, senior leadership and hustle if they plan to keep moving and I expect all of it. </p> <p><strong>Tyson Monck -- Vista Ridge </strong></p> <p>Vista Ridge comes in as the No. 12 seed which earned them a first-round bye with a 17-5 record. They will have all eyes on them and that is where big-time players shine. This is his moment. Monck plays well above his 6’1 frame as he is the heartbeat of the team. He leads the team in points(14.3), rebounds(6.1, steals(0.9) and blocks(0.5) and the Wolves out of Colorado Springs has been a pleasant surprise this season.  </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1284410" first="Dominic" last="Marrujo"] -- Prairie View </strong></p> <p>The Thunderhawks are led by a three-headed monster with Tyson Roberts(18.5 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="1284410" first="Dominic" last="Marrujo"] (18.8 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="969433" first="Rashawn" last="Salinas-Johnston"] (11.2 ppg). Marrujo is who is the team’s X-factor and will have to lead the charge as he has been doing since the moment that he got in high school. The 5’9 pg now, in his senior year is looking to make a late playoff push. He is a gifted scorer as he recently just hit the 1,000 points scored in his career mark but where he will make his mark is on the defensive end. On the season, he has been a pest on that end as he is up to 3.5 steals a game. He will have to be a disruptor and try and alter the game on that end of the floor as PV is up against a talented guard-led team with Columbine. That will be an interesting game where Marrujo will be the most experienced player in the game. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="973211" first="Trevon" last="Chambers"] -- Cherry Creek </strong></p> <p>Cherry Creek Bruins is a lethal 20-seed as they are up against Castle View and it has been Chambers who has been a pleasant surprise. Chambers had a task that not many other guards in the state would be able to do and fulfilled that and then some. He has made a jump as one of the most improved players in the state that has made the best out of his moment and the 6’2 point guard is the Bruins top X-factor. Cherry Creek has solid big men that get plenty of the attention but it is Chambers that has led the way. He is leading Cherry Creek in scoring at 13.9 points a game and will have to take care of the ball, handle pressure and different looks that playoff teams will surely give the Bruins in the playoffs. CC will rely on him heavily in the first round and it is a time for him to prove himself. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1182086" first="Sean" last="Harris"] -- Castle View</strong></p> <p>The 6’2 PG has been everything for the Sabercats as he has made the jump from a glue guy to the best player on the team. He is averaging an impressive 19.4 points, and 4.4 rebound a game as he is a player that is not afraid to shoot or get to the rim. Teams have been double-teaming him and trying to slow him down as he continues to get all of the attention and that has not deterred him from still scoring with ease. He is up against a very talented Cherry Creek squad in the first round that has defenders that will give him different looks that he has seen all season long and if he is able to continue to produce, he gives his team a chance. </p>