Friday Five: Previewing The Night’s Top Matchups

We are well into crunch time in the 2016-2017 regular season, with the final games before playoff brackets are announced being played one week from Saturday. As expected, there are a number of league races that will come down to the wire, and there are some games tonight that could go a long way to toward deciding those races and/or positioning in the playoffs. Then there are simply some must-see rivalry games. Put it all together and you have an exciting Friday night of hoops in store. Here are five big games to watch: <span style="color: #ff6600; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 1.1em;"><strong>Mountain Vista (14-6) at ThunderRidge (19-1), 7 p.m.</strong></span> <strong>The Skinny:</strong> The Grizzlies of ThunderRidge have still yet to lose an in-state game, and they complete a perfect run through the Continental League with three more victories. Standing in their way, though, is a Golden Eagles team that has won five of its last six games and still has an outside shot at winning the league if it can win out. Senior Issac Essien has been stellar since returning from an early season injury, averaging 13 points, a state-leading 6.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 4.5 steals per game. <strong>Matchup To Watch:</strong> Essien vs. T-Ridge junior guard Kaison Hammonds. These are two athletic players who have a deep bag of tools that allows them to affect the game in multiple ways. It's unclear how often they'll directly match up, but the success of each will go a long way toward determine the outcome of this game. <strong>Prediction:</strong> ThunderRidge. <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 1.1em; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Chaparral (11-9) at Legend (12-7), 7 p.m.</strong></span> <strong>The Skinny:</strong> This is one of the state's most intense rivalries, even if it isn't among the oldest. With two passionate fan bases, including alums who keep close tabs on the game, you can expect a full house over at Legend. The beauty of this game is that it features many young players who should be key figures in this rivalry for several more years to come. Though neither team is going to capture the Continental League title this season, this game could be a big momentum booster heading into the playoffs for the winner. <strong>Matchup To Watch:</strong> Chaparral PG Kobe Sanders vs. Legend PG Cameron Le Van. It's not often you get to freshman running the point guard role in a big rivalry game, but that's what we have here with two of the most talented class of 2019 players in Colorado. Both are unselfish at the position but can also score the basketball. Le Van is high-efficiency shooter from the outside while Sanders can get to the basket with the slightest of creases. This should be a great matchup to watch. <strong>Prediction:</strong> Legend. <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 1.1em; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Pueblo South (14-6) at Pueblo West (19-1), 7 p.m.</strong></span> <strong>The Skinny:</strong> This is an exciting first- and second-place matchup in the 4A South Central League between 7-0 West and 6-2 South. The Cyclones, the defending 4A champs, have been cruising all year and are yet to lose to a 4A team. But West surely remembers that its only league loss a season ago came at the hands of the Colts, who would love nothing more to than to knock the champs off their perch once again. <strong>Matchup To Watch:</strong> South guard Lawrence Ramos vs. West guard Nieyeme Smyer-Williams (pictured above). Ramos had a career high 16 points as a sophomore last season in the upset win over West. Though not the standout scorer that teammate Deshiloh Stanley (14.1 points per game this season) has been for the Colts, Ramos has provided good production during the team's current four-game win streak. David Simental (24.6 points per game) is the top scouting report target on the West roster, but Smyer-Williams (12.6 points), who struggled in the game between these two teams last season, can really make the Cyclones tick. <strong>Prediction:</strong> Pueblo West. <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 1.1em; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Valor Christian (16-4) at Evergreen (16-4), 7 p.m.</strong></span> <strong>The Skinny:</strong> First place in the 4A JeffCo League is on the line when the Eagles (10-1 in league play) visit the Cougars (9-2). Valor Christian, which would all but lock up the league title with a victory, beat Evergreen 64-51 when the two teams met back on Jan. 18. Jalen Sanders scored a game-high 25 points in that contest on 11-of-18 shooting while the Eagles held Evergreen standout Michael Dillon to 13 points on 6-of-18 shooting. <strong>Matchup To Watch:</strong> Sanders vs. Dillon. The two versatile 6-5 forwards make their teams tick. Both players can score and distribute from multiple spots on the floor and are key to their teams' defensive efforts. Last time Sanders got the better of this matchup. Can Dillon turn things around and help the Cougars jump into a first-place tie with the Eagles? We're about to find out. <strong>Prediction:</strong> Valor Christian. <span style="color: #ff6600; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 1.1em;"><strong>Resurrection Christian at Strasburg, 7 p.m.</strong></span> <strong>The Skinny:</strong> Strasburg coach Kyle Bollers on Friday morning implored the students at his school to show up in big numbers and give the Indians a big home-crowd advantage. They will need against a run-and-gun Resurrection Christian team that has taken the jump from 2A to 3A in complete stride this season. The Cougars average an eye-popping 87.4 points per game, the sixth-most in the country, according to MaxPreps. But the tough-nosed Indians surrender only 50 points per game. Something has to give. <strong>Matchup To Watch:</strong> RC guard Tanner Ervin vs. Strasburg guard Conner Martin. Ervin is a bonafide player of the year candidate with his ability to light it up from all spots on the floor while averaging nearly 28 points per game. Martin is one of the more underrated guards in his class. The two-sport star is averaging 19.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.5 steals per game. <strong>Prediction:</strong> Strasburg. &nbsp;