Games of the Week 12/12

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Monday - Severance @ Holy Family</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Monday night kickoffs the week with a top-notch 5A matchup between (3-0) Severance and (3-1) Holy Family. Holy Family's only loss on the season was in a close match-up against a talented Vista PEAK Prep team. Severance has some solid wins under their belt led by senior big man [player_tooltip player_id='1284530' first='Ty' last='Adam']. Holy Family is led by the senior guard duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1578213' first='Rocco' last='Bridges'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1285227' first='Eric' last='Quintana']. Eric is a quick floor general who can create for himself and others. Rocco is a good scorer who is known for his three-point shot. The big question is how will Holy Family counter CSU-Pueblo commit [player_tooltip player_id='1284530' first='Ty' last='Adam'] down low. Ty is one of the top scorers in the state averaging 25 points a game shooting an efficient 62%. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tuesday</strong> <strong>- Smoky Hill @ Valor Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two undefeated top 10 6A teams will be going head to head Tuesday night in Highlands Ranch at Valor Christian. Valor has three impressive wins on the season beating Fossil Ridge, Rocky Mountain, and Air Academy, being led by sophomore point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1369810' first='Cole' last='Scherer']. Smoky Hill is being led by [player_tooltip player_id='972419' first='Rickey' last='Mitchell'] who is looking like one of the best, if not the best local player in the class of 2023. Rickey has grown, improved his athleticism, and is still one of the best bucket-getters in the state averaging 29.5 points per game through his first two games. Both of these teams can put the ball in the basket this is surely shaping up to be a back-and-forth battle. Rickey is accompanied by a young supporting cast including the best freshman so far throughout the early season [player_tooltip player_id='1509229' first='Kai' last='McGrew'] who is averaging 14.5 points, 10 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks this season. Valor plays with four guards and one big man most of the time allowing them to spread the floor and allow their scorers to work. Notable guards are [player_tooltip player_id='921110' first='Archer' last='VanSickle'], [player_tooltip player_id='1369793' first='Eli' last='Kim'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1577998' first='Hunter' last='Guiles']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wednesday - Monarch @ Denver South</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both of these teams' only losses on the season come from top five 5A teams, Monarch losing to Mead (54-67) and Denver South losing to Frederick (67-69). Denver South has a sharpshooting backcourt made up of [player_tooltip player_id='1369809' first='Dominic' last='Rhoades-Martinez'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1578227' first='Tyler' last='Hunsinger']. The sophomore PG Dominic is averaging an impressive stat line of 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 5.3 steals and [player_tooltip player_id='1578227' first='Tyler' last='Hunsinger'] is averaging 20 points per game. Monarch is being led by a trio of juniors: Van Nellesen, [player_tooltip player_id='1369792' first='Evan' last='Trujillo'], and Sam Carlson. Van Nellesen is an intriguing 6'8 forward who is averaging 13.7 points and just under two blocks a game. This should be a good 6A matchup for a Wednesday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Thursday - Pueblo South @ Smoky Hill</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This match-up is intriguing as it has two of the top guards in the state going head-to-head. [player_tooltip player_id='1137823' first='Maurice' last='Austin'] is averaging 26.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 4.8 steals per game. I have already talked about Rickey in this article who will likely go bucket for bucket with Maurice. Smoky Hill has much more depth than Pueblo South with guards [player_tooltip player_id='1369816' first='Lorenzo' last='Contreras'], [player_tooltip player_id='1441961' first='Kaylan' last='Graham'], [player_tooltip player_id='1509237' first='Carter' last='Basquez'], and [player_tooltip player_id='972418' first='Jayson' last='Lewis']. Maurice is accompanied by G Ray J Aragon who is a microwave scorer. This game will be fun as it is one of the few times Pueblo South travels to Denver allowing more people to see last year's 4A runner-ups. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Friday - Denver East @ Legend</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game will be a clash between a senior-heavy Denver East squad and a young Legend team. Denver East is being led by the senior duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1420173' first='Daundre' last='Samuels'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1420175' first='Austin' last='Mohr']. Both of these guards have good size and skill making them one of the best backcourts in the state. [player_tooltip player_id='1420173' first='Daundre' last='Samuels'] is a big point guard who is a creative finisher with a soft touch near the rim. Legend is being led by junior twins [player_tooltip player_id='1369781' first='Gavin' last='Whitehead'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1450638' first='Seth' last='Whitehead']. This is another set of guards with good size both standing at 6'4. Gavin is a big point guard while Seth is more known for his off-ball movement and set shooting ability. [player_tooltip player_id='1577962' first='Carson' last='Flowers'] and Kade Sparks are two intriguing sophomores on the squad to keep an eye on. This game will be a good test for the young Legend squad, facing a Denver East team who made a deep playoff run last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Saturday - Vista PEAK Prep @ Eagle Ridge Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game is very interesting as these are two long athletic teams. Eagle Ridge Academy's starting lineup has an average of just under 6'6. Vista PEAK has two big men down low [player_tooltip player_id='1577963' first='Carson' last='Mcdonald'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1578033' first='Kyree' last='Polk'] who command the paint. Eagle Ridge has three impressive wings all standing above 6'5, [player_tooltip player_id='1420176' first='Hunter' last='Hill'], Cameron "CJ" Seifert, and [player_tooltip player_id='1420183' first='James-Kyren' last='Allen']. There will also be an interesting guard match-up between [player_tooltip player_id='1420178' first='Peyton' last='Torres'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1577932' first='Alante' last='Monroe-Elazier']. It will be interesting to see how these teams match up this should be an exciting match-up between a top 4A school and top 10 5A school.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->