5A Great 8: Matchups

1. Air Academy vs. 8. Pueblo South

These teams have already matched up once earlier this season when Air Academy won 61-48. In the first matchup Air Academy’s size and depth proved to be too much as Maurice Austin Maurice Austin 5'8" | PG Pueblo South | 2024 State CO was the only player on his team to score above double digits. Air Academy has the deepest and tallest team across the board making them a very hard team to face up against. Pueblo South will need Mateo Esquivel and Ray J Aragon to step up on the offensive end to take pressure off of Maurice. The CSU Pueblo commit Corbin Garver Corbin Garver 6'4" | CG Air Academy | 2023 State CO , is the leader of Air Academy doing a bit of everything from the wing for his team. Finn Horsfall Finn Horsfall 6'4" Air Academy | 2023 CO and Grant Featherston Grant Featherston 6'5" | PF Air Academy | 2023 State CO have been steady workhorses for the team on both ends of the floor. Noah Hellem Noah Hellem 5'9" | PG Air Academy | 2024 State CO has provided knockdown shooting and his classmate Max Howery Max Howery 6'0" | PG Air Academy | 2024 State CO has been a good floor general for the team. This will be a good rematch from two of the top teams from Southern Colorado.

2. Mesa Ridge vs. 7. Dakota Ridge

This is the only matchup that is not a rematch from this season and may be the most anticipated matchup of the day. Mesa Ridge has yet to lose a game this season and this may be their toughest matchup yet. Both of these teams do a good job of getting multiple players involved showing off their depth. Mesa Ridge plays with a chip on their shoulder led by junior G Tevin Reihl. Tevin and his brother Bryce both provide knockdown shooting and intense defense. Dakota Ridge is led by standout sophomore 6’3 W Ethan Berninger Ethan Berninger 6'4" | SF Dakota Ridge | 2025 State CO . Ethan has great size and shooting ability for a sophomore, and has improved his scoring ability getting downhill. Trevor Fuller Trevor Fuller 6'1" | CG Dakota Ridge | 2023 State CO has been a standout scorer for Dakota Ridge, accompanying him are his classmates Alex Rodriguez Alex Rodriguez 6'1" | CG Dakota Ridge | 2023 State CO and Carson Evans Carson Evans 6'1" | CG Dakota Ridge | 2023 State CO . Alex is a good PG who does a good job of getting teammates involved and Carson is a versatile guard who does a good job doing the dirty work. Cyprus Woodley has the potential to be a difference-maker in this game due to his scoring and passing ability. There will be a good match-up down low between Isaac Pullig Isaac Pullig 6'5" | PF Dakota Ridge | 2023 State CO and Trei Ginn. This game should be a battle between two teams who have had great seasons.

3. Windsor vs. 11. Longmont

Windsor and Longmont have matched up twice this season each of them winning one game. Longmont is led by junior guard Cole Corner Cole Corner 6'1" Longmont | 2024 CO who missed the first part of the season with an injury but has come back strong. Cole is a knockdown shooter and has been doing a good job rebounding and leading the team in assists. Windsor is led by senior CG David Hageman David Hageman 6'3" Windsor | 2023 CO , who has been on a tear the second half of the season as Windsor has not lost since matching up with Longmont at the beginning of January. David has been able to effectively sway the game on both ends of the floor and has improved his overall offensive game. Senior Reese Pearson is a smooth bucket-getter who is another senior having a superb season and will need to have a big game to help Longmont. Colby Shuck has been one of my favorite glue players due to his team-first mentality and high IQ on the hardwood. This will be a good match-up between two Northern teams, it will take a lot to stop Windsor’s bug winning streak!

4. Mead vs. 5. Frederick

Mead and Frederick are generally close to each other but are in different conferences, so they have only played once for their first game of the season. Frederick took home the win in their first matchup as Luke Justice Luke Justice 6'1" | SG Frederick | 2023 State CO took over the game with his electric scoring. This will be a match-up between two of the best seniors on the offensive end between Luke and Tucker Mills Tucker Mills 6'6" | CG Mead | 2023 State CO . The Omaha-Nebraska commit is a lengthy scorer who can exploit matchups on smaller guards or slower bigs. In their first matchup Matias Aldana Matias Aldana 6'5" | SF Frederick | 2023 State CO did a very good job of guarding Tucker when he was playing before facing foul trouble. In the last round, Dominic McLawrence Dominic McLawrence 6'3" | SF Mead | 2024 State CO stepped up and had a huge game, if he can continue to step up that will help Mead a ton. Another player to look out for on Mead is SG Nick Basson Nick Basson 6'2" Mead | 2023 CO who can score in bunches. Frederick has a scrappy two-way PG Harry Singh Harry Singh 6'1" | CG Frederick | 2023 CO who has been a great piece for this team due to his energy and team-first mentality. This should be a very good match-up between unofficial rivals.