5A Second-Round Preview: Larry Farmer Region
The first round of the 2016-17 Colorado 5A playoffs is in the books. In 16 first-round matchups, the higher seeds prevailed in 14 of them. That sets up some very intriguing matchups in the second round, which takes place on…
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Continue ReadingThe first round of the 2016-17 Colorado 5A playoffs is in the books. In 16 first-round matchups, the higher seeds prevailed in 14 of them. That sets up some very intriguing matchups in the second round, which takes place on Saturday.
Let’s get right into previewing our first region, in order of tipoff times:
5A Larry Farmer Region
No. 24 Fossil Ridge (15-9) at No. 9 Denver East (16-7), Saturday, 1 p.m.
The Scoop: Braxton Bertolette was at it again for Fossil Ridge in a 79-63 first-round victory over Lincoln. The 6-2 senior guard scored 38 points — his fourth (!) straight game with at least that many points. As we said in our preview of the first round last week, Bertolette is in a zone where he is going to do everything in his power to keep his team moving and extending its season. Now, Bertolette and the Sabercats will get a much tougher test against an athletic and talented Denver East team that appears to be rounding into form. That much was evident during a classic Denver Public League championship game last Saturday against No. 3 overall seed George Washington, which the Angels lost 99-96 in overtime. East junior 6-4 wing Daylen Kountz, like Bertolette, is playing as well as anyone in the state right now. He dropped a career-high 42 points against G-Dub and has shown an ability since he became eligible in January to score at will. This will be a superb matchup of two of the state’s most exciting players.
Matchup To Watch: Denver East frontline vs. Fossil Ridge defense. We know that Bertolette and Kountz will put their fair share of shots in the basket. But can the Sabercats limit the sizable front line of East? Alex May, a 6-9 senior, has improved in a major way this season and can be trouble to deal with on the glass. Add raw but powerful 7-foot sophomore Assane Diouf into the mix and you have a lot of weight being thrown around. The challenge for the Sabercats will be providing help inside when necessary without abandoning capable outside shooters for East like Kountz and guard Jamison Washington.
Moving On: East rides its home crowd to a berth in the Sweet 16.
No. 25 Highlands Ranch (12-12) at No. 8 Smoky Hill (15-8), Saturday, 2 p.m.
The Scoop: Both these teams enter the matchup on a hot streak. Highlands Ranch beat Fairview 61-40 in the first round for its fourth straight win and sixth in its last seven games. Smoky Hill, meanwhile, is also on a roll. The Buffaloes bounced back from a five-game losing streak midway through the season — which featured three losses of five points or less — to win four straight heading into Saturday’s matchup. That winning streak includes a win over No. 1 overall seed Eaglecrest and a 73-48 rout of No. 10 seed Cherry Creek. The Buffs clearly mean business.
Matchup To Watch: Highlands Ranch junior forward Brendan Sullivan vs. Smoky Hill junior forward Will Becker. The 6-6 Sullivan has provided great production for the Falcons, averaging nearly 17 points and 10 rebounds per game. Sullivan will have to work for everything he gets against the 6-8 Becker, who is arguably the top rim protector in Colorado. Becker is averaging 4.4 blocks per game (most among big-school players) while pulling down 11.3 rebounds per contest. If Becker is up to his usual production — which also includes 7.5 points and 2.0 assists per game — the Buffs will be tough to handle.
Moving On: Smoky Hill absorbs some tough punches from the Falcons before moving into a marquee Sweet 16 matchup with Denver East.
No. 32 Rangeview at No. 1 Eaglecrest (19-4), Saturday, 2 p.m.
The Scoop: This is no slouch matchup to start the playoffs for a team in Eaglecrest that earned the top overall seed. Rangeview still has a few of the pieces that ran to the Final Four last season (where they lost to, you guessed it, Eaglecrest), including 6-2 junior guard Matthew Johnson, who dropped 33 points in a first-round win over Mountain Range on Wednesday. Rangeview has won 12 of its last 13 games. Of course, Eaglecrest is No. 1 for a reason. Losing to only three in-state schools all season, the Raptors won the vaunted Centennial League and own victories over five of the top 10 seeds in the tournament. With reigning Gatorade player of the year Colbey Ross leading the way, the Raptors believe this is the start of a title run in coach John Olander’s final season.
Matchup To Watch: Rangeview junior forward Ryan Ongala vs. Eaglecrest front line. It was clear when we watched the 6-6 Ongala play for the Colorado Miners last spring and summer that he was ready to take on a bigger role for the Raiders. He’s been a strong force inside for coach Shawn Palmer, averaging 10.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Eaglecrest can throw a lot at you in the front court with a rotating class that includes seniors Ikenna Ozor and Josh Walton and junior Morgan Brown, a smart and athletic bunch that comes at you in waves. Ross and Johnson are sure to carry their teams from the perimeter, but it will be intriguing to see how the battle plays out in the paint.
Moving On: Eaglecrest moves on from a tough test against Rangeview to make the Sweet 16.
No. 17 Vista Ridge (18-6) at No. 16 Lakewood (17-6), Saturday, 7 p.m.
The Scoop: Vista Ridge made a run to the Class 4A Final Four last year, and the Wolves believe they can do the same in 5A this season behind Wyoming-bound star Hunter Maldonado. Vista Ridge had to fight off a strong effort from 48th-seeded Greeley West before prevailing in a 54-42 victory in the first round Wednesday. A tougher tests awaits in a Lakewood team that is loaded with experience and eager to make one final postseason run. Kolton Peterson has battled a foot injury all season, but when the 6-2 Colorado Mesa-bound guard is on, there are few better shooters in the state. If he’s on and hitting, the Tigers have a chance to make a deep run.
Matchup To Watch: Vista Ridge senior forward Hunter Maldonado vs. Lakewood senior forward Jacob Storey. Maldonado, a player of the year frontrunner, showed his athleticism in the win over G-West with a monstrous reverse dunk. He’s the kind of player who can absolutely take over the game. In the 6-7 Storey, Lakewood has a versatile player who can create mismatch problems. He’s a walking double-double he has shown an ability to wreak havoc when being aggressive.
Moving On: In a tight, white-knuckle affair, Lakewood comes up with enough big shots to move on and face Eaglecrest in the Sweet 16.