Newest 5A Top-10 heading into the final week of the season

<ol> <li> <h3><strong>Cherry Creek</strong></h3> </li> <li> <h3><strong>Regis</strong></h3> </li> <li> <h3><strong>Rangeview</strong></h3> </li> <li> <h3><strong>Chaparral</strong></h3> </li> <li> <h3><strong>Thunderridge</strong></h3> </li> <li> <h3><strong>George Washington</strong></h3> </li> <li> <h3><strong>Mountain Vista</strong></h3> </li> <li> <h3><strong>Fountain Fort-Carson</strong></h3> </li> <li> <h3><strong>Fossil Ridge</strong></h3> </li> <li> <h3><strong>Denver East</strong></h3> </li> </ol> <p><strong>Cherry Creek</strong> still runs the table. They’re undefeated and pulling off win after win so it only makes sense. [player_tooltip player_id="608058" first="Julian" last="Hammond"] and [player_tooltip player_id="770403" first="Myles" last="Purchase"] are doing everything in their power to keep the ball rolling. They went into the season as the No.1 team and do not want to take and falls in their final week although they will be tested like they haven’t been all season long. I expect those two to step up, but can they get [player_tooltip player_id="921104" first="Christian" last="Hammond"], Chase Penry and [player_tooltip player_id="917013" first="Arden" last="Walker"] to also get on the same page? If so, the party train keeps going.</p> <p><strong>Regis</strong> has undergone injury after injury and are still going through the bug as they will not have [player_tooltip player_id="965809" first="Kyle" last="Sandler"] and [player_tooltip player_id="965747" first="Ty" last="Bergman"] for the forseable future, but still have enough talent to make it happen. They also look at a tough week where [player_tooltip player_id="965744" first="Blakeley" last="Stoughton"] and [player_tooltip player_id="965741" first="Michael" last="Wolf"] will have to continue to play their best basketball. The Raiders will look for another player to step up and help in the mix as [player_tooltip player_id="965745" first="Alonzo" last="Paul"] handles all of the ballhandling duties, that dynamic duo to take over the scoring and either [player_tooltip player_id="921110" first="Archer" last="VanSickle"], [player_tooltip player_id="921101" first="Tarea" last="Fulcher"] or [player_tooltip player_id="973003" first="Cole" last="Records"] prove to be an X-factor for the team. I expect all to get a crack at it and for players to emerge that we have not seen enough of quite yet.</p> <p><strong>Rangeview</strong> has the formula for winning and the ingredients are simple: play for one another, be coachable and leave it all out on the floor. They do that every single night and with [player_tooltip player_id="916972" first="Cade" last="Palmer"] leading the way with players such as [player_tooltip player_id="1138338" first="Devin" last="Phillio"] and Demajio Merritt standing out in the mix as well they continue being a team worth talking about. The Raiders have a very deep team that has players from everywhere stepping up. There is not a team as in-tune with one another as this group is and I expect them to continue proving that.</p> <p><strong>Chaparral</strong> has a balanced team and are equipped to match up with whatever style it is an opposing team wants to play. If it is a fast-paced game with high tempo, well that is their bread and butter and what they are suited for. If it is a slow and halfcourt type of game they have that too and that is because they have one of the best inside-out duos in the state. [player_tooltip player_id="759289" first="Luke" last="Williams"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1139542" first="Joel" last="Speckman"] have proved to be as good as advertised. They can score at ease, are high IQ players with upside and also take on the challenge defensively. Having a player like [player_tooltip player_id="965763" first="Braden" last="Boley"] step in and help also goes a long way as the senior wing is one of the better rebounders in the state that stars in his role. This team is solid from top to bottom and are well-coached as well.</p> <p><strong>ThunderRidge</strong> has arguably the best team on paper. They are a loaded bunch with solid bigs and excellent guard play and have 4-5 guys that could easily lead them in scoring on any given night. They have a great starting unit with multiple players on the bench that can step in and get it done as well. The Grizzlies are without Zack Keller this week but still have a frontcourt that has [player_tooltip player_id="916957" first="Nolan" last="Marold"] and [player_tooltip player_id="918919" first="Joey" last="Bilello"] to take over those duties. They do get back [player_tooltip player_id="916967" first="Garrett" last="Arnold"], one of the better passers in the state that will help set up players like [player_tooltip player_id="916966" first="Jason" last="Simental"], [player_tooltip player_id="618859" first="Jackson" last="Brennan"] and [player_tooltip player_id="972415" first="JJ" last="Williams"] to open up the offense. I expect them to get back to excellent play as they have their lead guard back and to continue to welcome on all challengers that come their way.</p> <p><strong>George Washington</strong> is another team that matches up nice with any team that they are up against. It is a balanced team led by [player_tooltip player_id="770413" first="Jarmell" last="Johnson"] who is one of the better scorers in the state and has been playing excellent in his senior season, but also have a loaded team that refuses to back down to any team they are up against. The guard trio of [player_tooltip player_id="916978" first="Darrian" last="Hammons"], [player_tooltip player_id="770429" first="Cheick" last="Kouyate"] and [player_tooltip player_id="918905" first="Kijuan" last="Thompson"] set the tone defensively and do things that show up beyond the scoreboard while [player_tooltip player_id="770417" first="Eddie" last="McPhee"], [player_tooltip player_id="916990" first="Trey" last="Edmonds"] and [player_tooltip player_id="916954" first="Kendale" last="Johnson"] do everything in between. This team plays every game as if they have a lot to prove and this week they can continue to show why they are a title-contending team with high expectations.  </p> <p>For the Golden Eagles its simple; the team goes as [player_tooltip player_id="759207" first="Ben" last="Bowen"] allows them to. He is a top-3 player in the state and has been playing like it and as long as <strong>Mountain Vista</strong> has him at the helm then they are in good hands. Teams all key-in and focus on the talented senior and he still figures out a way to lead his team victory as he is having one of the most impressive seasons out of anyone in the state. He scores, facilitates and has his team in a position to win every night and with [player_tooltip player_id="918911" first="Henry" last="Gamble"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1051098" first="Ty" last="Strawbridge"] also stepping in and helping him out it is a team that is going to fight tooth and nail in every battle.</p> <p><strong>Fountain Fort-Carson</strong> might’ve just solidified themselves as the top Colorado Springs team this year with an overtime win over crosstown rivals, Doherty this past week. They look ahead to a week where they will be challenged once again but  with the only duo in the state that averages a double-double on the season in stifling towers, [player_tooltip player_id="759261" first="Isaiah" last="Thompson"] and [player_tooltip player_id="967542" first="Kaleb" last="Mitchell"] then anything is possible for this team. This group plays well off of one another and has excellent guard play that knows to feed the beasts. This team limits second chance opportunities, gets out and runs and have a formula to win games.</p> <p><strong>Fossil Ridge</strong> is a surprise standout team that has excellent guard play that separates them from the pack. The Sabercats are led by two combo-guards in [player_tooltip player_id="759281" first="Brock" last="Mishak"] and [player_tooltip player_id="770404" first="Tyce" last="Baldwin"] that are natural scorers that are capable of exploding at any given moment. With those two taking on the scoring duties, that leaves room for [player_tooltip player_id="917018" first="Braiden" last="Dishman"] and [player_tooltip player_id="916977" first="Luke" last="Yoder"] to also step up and be involved. This team can score with the best of them and keep on rolling.</p> <p><strong>Denver Eas</strong>t is a team that has played excellent ball as of late and have a lot of dog in him. They are a team that is ready for whoever is in front of them and have the personell to get it done. The Angels are led by [player_tooltip player_id="759275" first="Quis" last="Davis"] who has been on a tear this season. He is an unselfish guard with excellent court awareness and gets others to play hard around him. [player_tooltip player_id="1053581" first="Aguir" last="Dawam"] has controlled the paint and eliminated any idea of easy baskets. He is athletic and has elevated his game as the game has come easily to him. [player_tooltip player_id="1020179" first="Michael" last="Jackson"] and [player_tooltip player_id="770444" first="Tom" last="Connelly"] have both starred in their roles and been the difference makes for this group. I expect them to continue poriving what makes them great and it looks like they have some time to rest before making a playoff run.</p>