Updated Top-10 in 5A Heading into the Week

<ol> <li>Cherry Creek</li> <li>ThunderRidge</li> <li><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Regis</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Mountain Vista</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 1rem;">George Washington</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Rangeview</span></li> <li>Chaparral</li> <li><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Overland</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Doherty</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Fossil Ridge</span></li> </ol> <p>Cherry Creek continues to keep it rolling and this week will surely be tested as they have a game against another Top-10 team in Overland. Creek is led by [player_tooltip player_id="608058" first="Julian" last="Hammond"] (20.3 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="770403" first="Myles" last="Purchase"] (14.8 ppg &amp; 4.3 spg). They form a monster backcourt and get at it on both ends of the floor. With [player_tooltip player_id="921104" first="Christian" last="Hammond"], [player_tooltip player_id="965780" first="Blake" last="Purchase"] and [player_tooltip player_id="917013" first="Arden" last="Walker"] also helping out and starring in their roles, this will be a tough team to beat.</p> <p>ThunderRidge did not get to play this past week due COVID but looks like they might get back up and running. Their game against Regis would’ve been one of the games of the year and it is unfortunate that it was canceled. They do not move at all in their spot and with [player_tooltip player_id="916957" first="Nolan" last="Marold"], [player_tooltip player_id="916967" first="Garrett" last="Arnold"], [player_tooltip player_id="759280" first="Zach" last="Keller"] and [player_tooltip player_id="918919" first="Joey" last="Bilello"] all leading the way, there might not be a team that matches up with them with size and guard play.</p> <p>Regis keeps on trekking and looks to be in a rhythm like no other team in 5A right now. The Raiders are 4-0 on the season and just got an easy blowout against the #1 team in 3A, Lutheran, and corralled the No. 1 player in the state regardless of class. The Raiders have an excellent backcourt in [player_tooltip player_id="965741" first="Michael" last="Wolf"] (17.0 ppg), and [player_tooltip player_id="965745" first="Alonzo" last="Paul"] (12.8 ppg) to lead the way and create opportunities in others while scoring themselves. The best combo-guard/wings in the state in [player_tooltip player_id="965744" first="Blakeley" last="Stoughton"](19.5 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="965809" first="Kyle" last="Sandler"] (18.0 ppg) and other players like [player_tooltip player_id="921110" first="Archer" last="VanSickle"] and [player_tooltip player_id="921101" first="Tarea" last="Fulcher"] who can enter the game and create a spark as well. This is a loaded team that keeps on progressing.</p> <p>Mountain Vista continues to pick up wins against every team that I had my eyes on and deemed an under the radar team ready to blow out this season. The way that they get it done has been the part that has got me. [player_tooltip player_id="759207" first="Ben" last="Bowen"] is their best player and is one of the best in the state. He is off to 15.5 points, 7.5 assists, and 6.0 rebounds a game and has gotten help around him as well. The Golden Eagles have had junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="918911" first="Henry" last="Gamble"] (12.0 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="1051098" first="Ty" last="Strawbridge"] (10.8 ppg) step up and help as well and when all three players are playing well, will continue to roll.</p> <p>Through three games, George Washington has dominated. They are 3-0 on the season and have won by an average of 43.3 points a game so far. Their guard play has been overwhelming, their big men have had their way, and defense has been insanely tough. Now they are finally going to be challenged – or are they? Douglas County comes in with excellent guard play as well, and that will be fun, but can they keep up with a team like the Patriots that are in a groove? GW is then up against in-conference Thomas Jefferson and Denver East to conclude the week, so this will be an interesting one to see where they fair.</p> <p>Rangeview continues to find a way. They are a group that plays for one another and come together to win games. While some players in the state are about stats and “getting their own,” the Raiders care about one thing; winning. Rangeview has not lost a game in two years and have been tested along the way. They are 5-0 on the season and should be able to continue rolling before being tested in two weeks. They’ll likely finish out the season in the Top-10 and the play of [player_tooltip player_id="916972" first="Cade" last="Palmer"], Devin Philio and [player_tooltip player_id="618892" first="Elijah" last="Thomas"] have been enough to keep the streak alive.</p> <p>Chaparral has been a pleasant surprise this season, and it goes to tell you the type of coach that Nate Rohnert has done. For the entire core to have left and the Wolverines to only have had Joel Speckman return from last year’s team, and Chaparral not only build around him but keep winning has been a story. Speckman is at a double-double of 14.8 points and 10 rebounds a game and with transfer guard [player_tooltip player_id="759289" first="Luke" last="Williams"] (16.3ppg) proving that he is one of the best guards in the 2022 class and should get more respect this is a solid duo to watch out for. [player_tooltip player_id="965763" first="Braden" last="Boley"] (10.3 ppg) has been one of the best rebounding guards in the state at 8.8 rebounds a game and knows where to fit in, and with those three playing at this level, have been a tough team to beat. They’re undefeated on the season and do not look to be slowing down.</p> <p>Overland has been the [player_tooltip player_id="1029174" first="Jameel" last="Wright"] (22.7 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="965781" first="Marzouq" last="Abdur-Razaaq"] (15.0 ppg) show. They have been a perfect 1-2 punch and have a connection that not many in the state have with them being brothers. They read each other and know where the other will be, and it has paid dividends. Having players like  [player_tooltip player_id="1047505" first="Davarion" last="Remy Wedgeworth-Brown"], Brian Lamptey, and Kai Ileya also stepping up at moments has opened things up for them. </p> <p>Doherty has jumped into the Top-10 as they are now 5-0 on the season and have four players in double figures on the year. Schaefer Reichart (19.0 ppg) has been sensational, [player_tooltip player_id="916999" first="Brody" last="Gish"] (15.0) and [player_tooltip player_id="770454" first="AJ" last="Guiao"] (11.6 ppg) and Christan Drummond (10.6 ppg) have been able able to blitz opposing teams and it has led to wins. This team looks to be in a groove, and other teams will have to figure out a way to slow them down. With how they have played, size has not been an issue, and they are showing that excellent guard play trumps it all.</p> <p>Fossil Ridge also jumps into our Top-10 with a big win over Eaglecrest, and they are cruising. Fossil Ridge has a talented bunch, and they feed off of each other in games. A dangerous backcourt of [player_tooltip player_id="759281" first="Brock" last="Mishak"] (22.3 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="770404" first="Tyce" last="Baldwin"] (18.0 ppg) have looked to be one of the most potent duos in the state that can score with relative ease but have also had help in [player_tooltip player_id="916977" first="Luke" last="Yoder"] (10.5 ppg) and sophomore Nick Randall (6.4 ppg &amp; 5.0 rpg) as well. Getting all on the same page has them looking like the team to watch out for, as they are certainly gunning for the top spot.</p>