5A Playoffs: Contenders and Sleepers from Quadrant 1 & 2
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Playoff brackets were released on Monday morning, and it was broken up into four quadrants, with 32 teams in total making the playoffs. Here, we focus on two quadrants and what teams stand out to us at first look. Teams…
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Continue ReadingPlayoff brackets were released on Monday morning, and it was broken up into four quadrants, with 32 teams in total making the playoffs. Here, we focus on two quadrants and what teams stand out to us at first look.
Teams in Quadrant 1: Cherry Creek, Lakewood, Smoky Hill, Horizon, Mountain Vista, Monarch, Eaglecrest, Ralston Valley
Quadrant 1: Contender
Cherry Creek is the team to beat in this region as they come in as the No.1 overall seed in the state after an undefeated 14-0 start to the year and check off plenty of boxes that not every team in the state has. They are ultimate competitors with a chip on their shoulder, have plenty of scoring options that are locked in on both ends of the court, and have the No.1 player in the state of Colorado that they KNOW will be up for the challenge. Julian Hammond Julian Hammond 6'1" | SG Cherry Creek | 2021 State #209 Nation CO is the real deal and the University of Colorado commit comes into the playoff fresh off of his best game of the season. Hammond put up 39-points in the Centennial League championship game and has others around him that want to avenge an early exit from a season ago. Point guard, Myles Purchase Myles Purchase 5'11" | PG Cherry Creek | 2021 State CO is a tenacious defender that refuses to lose, Christian Hammond Christian Hammond 6'3" | SG Colorado Prep | 2023 #160 Nation CA-S is a walking bucket and players like Chase Penry Chase Penry 6'2" | SF Cherry Creek | 2021 State CO and Arden Walker Arden Walker 6'4" | PF Cherry Creek | 2021 State CO give the Bruins a unique blend of size and athleticism that leads the way. I expect the Bruins to step up in a big way and are who I am choosing to hoist the trophy this year, but others will certainly be looking to alter those plans, so all need to step up if they plan on winning it all.
Quadrant 1 Sleeper:
Mountain Vista is a team that I can say is a sleeper, but it honestly all comes down to one question: who else is going to step up and help Ben Bowen Ben Bowen 6'5" | CG Mountain Vista | 2021 State CO out. Opposing teams are keying in on him and sending double teams with shades his way. He has to go against so many different looks and traps a game that it allows other players to be in opportunities that they should be able to score. The Golden Eagles are the No. 8 seed on the bracket but have what it takes to surprise a team or two when he is playing well. If they can get others like Henry Gamble Henry Gamble 6'1" | CG Mountain Vista | 2022 State CO and Ty Strawbridge Ty Strawbridge 6'5" | SF Mountain Vista | 2021 State CO to step up even more and knock down shots and force teams to not be able to give Bowen so much attention they can go even further. Expect him to show up every game but for others to also try and help him along the way.
Teams in Quadrant 2: Chaparral, Vista Peak, Fairview, Chatfield, ThunderRidge, Rocky Mountain, Douglas County, Rampart
Quadrant 2: Contender
ThunderRidge is a team that I knew would stand out heading into the season, and they were as good as advertised despite some bumps in the road. The Grizzlies had to worry about quarantines and injuries along the way but head into the tournament with plenty to be excited about. The Grizzlies have the most size in the state and have a cohesive bunch that plays for one another. With Garrett Arnold Garrett Arnold 6'0" | PG Thunderridge | 2021 State CO starting at pg and healthy, ThunderRidge has been an undefeated team that looks like the most complete team in the state. They have a stifling frontcourt trio of Nolan Marold Nolan Marold 6'7" | C Thunderridge | 2021 State CO , Joey Bilello Joey Bilello 6'8" | SF Thunderridge | 2022 State CO and Zach Keller Zach Keller 6'9" | PF ThunderRidge | 2022 State #81 Nation CO that controls the paint and score at will down low with Jackson Brennan Jackson Brennan 6'3" | CG ThunderRidge | 2022 State CO , JJ Williams JJ Williams 6'5" | SF Highlands Ranch | 2023 State CO and Jason Simental Jason Simental 6'3" | CG Thunderridge | 2021 State CO all being X-factor type of players that can change the outcome of the team. When they’re all locked in and aligned, I do not see many teams being able to match this team’s intensity, size, and talent. Solid bunch that should come out of the __ region.
Chaparral is the team I’m expecting to make a Cinderella run as they have what it takes to win in the playoffs. They are well-coached, committed defenders and play with an edge each time out, and that is what you need if you want to make a run. Chaparral is the No. 5 team in the 2nd quadrant but is just as dangerous as any team in the state. If you catch them on a good day, they look like the best team in the state and have what it takes to win it all. For size, they have Joel Speckman who is arguably the most skilled big in the state. He’s a forward in the 2022 class that scores at ease, competes on both ends of the floor, reads what the defense gives him, and adjusts. He has excellent guard play in Luke Williams Luke Williams 5'9" | CG Dsst Green Valley | 2022 State CO at the helm who made the switch up to 5A and looks great as well as a versatile wing in Braden Boley Braden Boley 6'3" | SF Chaparral | 2021 State CO . The Wolverines will need more than just those three if they plan on making a push at it but certainly have the pieces and are my pick for the darkhorse team out of the region.
Quadrant 2: Sleeper
Douglas County is a team that I would not be thrilled to go up against if I am being frank. They have one of the top guards in the state in Jaeton Hackley Jaeton Hackley 5'11" | PG Douglas County | 2022 State CO leading the way that helps them in every single department but also have started to get a bit of a rhythm in Keegan Phillips Keegan Phillips 6'7" | SF Douglas County | 2021 State CO who is starting to look healthy. I have seen Phillips in a rhythm, and there are not better heat-check scorers in the state that can tap into a scoring overload as he can; it just has to come together. They also have started to get their team back to full strength with Cooper McBride Cooper McBride 6'6" | PF Douglas County | 2021 State CO getting back into his true form. They already have had players like Ty Nettles Ty Nettles 5'10" | SG Douglas County | 2022 State CO and AJ Jackson AJ Jackson 6'1" | CG Douglas County | 2022 State CO step up, which makes this group one of the quicker teams in the state and those two players ability to change up the pace and apply pressure on the defense has this as a dangerous team that could catch fire at the right time. I would seriously not underestimate this team or look back at a loss or close game and think this isn’t one of the more talented teams in the region. I expect some noise.