6A Rd 2 Primer: Storylines to watch in Quadrant 4

Round 1 & the season gave us answers, but it also created questions as the 6A bracket tightens. In Quadrant 4, matchups get tougher, rotations shrink, and stars are expected to rise. Here's what I'm watching closely, and who could swing momentum heading into Round 2. Here's a breakdown of Quadrant 4.   Use code dev30 for 30% off and secure access as we're finally in the postseason, so you don't miss any of our scouting.   Thunderridge/Overland    How will [player_tooltip player_id='2381948' first='Sam' last='Walkowiak'] impact this one?   Sam is highly regarded as one of the best two-way guards in the 2028 class, and he's answered to those claims for the Grizzlies all season long. In league play, he was even better as he seemed to find his place. His efficiency has been high, and he's earned a higher usage as well, and delivered. Sam is a presence who alters the game with intensity and activity. Offensively, he has to win his matchup against a scrappy bunch, but that's why he'll be the most important player in this game, as his physicality will be called upon. Overland wants to be physical and use their will against you, and in a win-or-go-home setting, I feel that ratchets up. Sam will have to set the tone and show that ThunderRidge will counter any of that. He'll be an important piece to this game.   Is [player_tooltip player_id='2470673' first='Demetrius' last='Lambert'] playing?   It's no question that Overland is a much better team when Lambert is playing when he's playing. He's their best player and is putting up 17.9 points and 5.8 rebounds a game. The game slows down for him, he stays on the attack, and he gets to the FT line for easy baskets as they cannot contain him. The thing is, Overland has gone so long without him, as he has not played in a game in a month. How will they adjust to having him, and can they build off of the momentum they had with him and add back a big piece of their team? Even deeper than that, how will he look? Has Lambert been working on his game and ready to step in and make up for lost time? Will he still have that same confidence in his game and get right back to it in such a pivotal game? He's the biggest question mark of this game, but from what we've seen from Meech, this is where he shines brightest. Fun matchup.   Fossil Ridge/East    Will [player_tooltip player_id='2234116' first='Vander' last='Eberhard'] be too much for East?   If there is one area of concern that I have for Denver East, it is how they defend against actual bigs. They're a young group who play for one another and battle down low, but what we haven't seen is how they look against traditional bigs and against a formidable frontcourt duo like this. Eberhard has been that at times, where he has sealed and went up, powered through defenders for and-1 finishes, and dominated on the block. He's 6'8 and overwhelming at times. But he's also settled at others, and that is where I wonder which Vander we're going to get. At 6'8, he has the size to take over in games as there aren't many teams that can match that size. He grabs boards, starts the break and runs, and gets positioning. At other times, he's been in cruise control. I want to know which Vander we're going to get as he will be the player who swings this game.   Can [player_tooltip player_id='2395343' first='Lincoln' last='Lemieux'] return to form?   Lincoln has been in and out of the lineup this season, and due to that, he hasn't been able to find a real rhythm and impact the game in ways that we're used to seeing him do. The shot hasn't been falling in ways that he's used to; the scoring has been up and down, where he looks like he has it at times, and he has to find other ways to leave his mark, and the team is adjusting to it. But with that, he has still given full effort. He's crashed the boards, he's laid it all out on the line for extra possessions despite being banged up, and has made no excuses about his play. The challenge for him before this year was being productive when it's not just shooting the basketball, and he's finding new ways to do that. This rough patch will only make him a better player in the long run. But with the season on the line, will he be able to look like the Lincoln that we know? This is a big spot for him to return to form, and I am sure he will get some open looks. Can he help out on the boards, take pressure off of the guards, and get some finishes? I'm betting that he capitalizes on not being the focal point of the offense in this playoff game. He has an opportunity to right the ship.   Rangeview/Erie   [player_tooltip player_id='2393528' first='Anthony' last='Andrew'] can win Rangeview a state title   I truly believe that he can. He's the biggest game changer in the entire state as a player who doesn't have to score to make a point, but he's been doing that as well. They have the most dangerous press in the state, and he's who is up front of that. He uses his long arms to play the passing lanes, he defends without fouling, and they can throw him on whoever they want to slow down, and he limits their touches entirely. Rangeview is contenders and has yet to lose in-state all season long, and with him being in such a groove on both ends of the floor, they could keep that up. I'm sure they'll unleash him against Erie and moving forward.   Who is Braylon Englehart?   Englehart has been a role player for most of the season, where he's finished with 2 points or less in 80% of the season, but somehow in the last 5 games, he's finished in double-digits in multiple games and is coming off of his best game of the season in the first round. Erie was pushed to their limit in the 1st round and escaped, and it was because they got a huge game from Englehart. He finished with 13 points on 5-7 shooting from the field, he knocked down both FTs, and showed that you can throw that game plan right out of the window. He was solid in their last outing, and they'll need another big performance for him as they are HUGE underdogs.   Creek/Centarus    Will the biggest player in the state appear in the biggest moments?   [player_tooltip player_id='2416629' first='Wyatt' last='Carpender'] is one of the very few 7-footers in the entire state, and at times, you see the upside and what makes him a special talent. He has the size, a motor, hand-eye coordination, and there's clearly progress being made, where he looks so improved, but we want that to be for longer durations. We want him to put together 4 complete quarters, and that isn't scoring, that's by being a paint beast, a rim protector, and a player who is causing chaos with his length. We've seen that before, we want to see it now. This Centaurus squad will not have the size to match him, and no team really does. It's important to get off to a hot start.   Can [player_tooltip player_id='2725422' first='JT' last='Falzone'] help pull the upset?   In Centaurus's first round win over Vista Peak, it was Falzone who got hot and gave his team some momentum. Falzone went 5-6 from deep and made them pay with his movement and ability to stay shot-ready. He had a game-high 15 points, he grabbed 6 rebounds, and made his mark in the game. They'll need more of that if they plan to pull the upset against a young Creek squad that is also vulnerable from beyond the arc. The 6'4 senior is a plug-and-play prospect who has filled it up all season long, but this is the game where he truly could up his game and be the spark.

Round 1 & the season gave us answers, but it also created questions as the 6A bracket tightens. In Quadrant 4, matchups get tougher, rotations shrink, and stars are expected to rise. Here's what I'm watching closely, and who could swing momentum heading into Round 2. Here's a breakdown of Quadrant 4.