Ryan’s 6A Rankings: Tier Three

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tier three is comprised of teams that have played well but have yet to fully prove themselves as top contenders. These teams still have a chance to make some noise in the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. Vista Ridge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vista Ridge has proven to be one of, if not the top team in 6A from Colorado Springs. This team has a deadly senior duo on the wings made up of [player_tooltip player_id='1578230' first='Tyson' last='Monck'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1577959' first='Caleb' last='Kelley']. [player_tooltip player_id='1578230' first='Tyson' last='Monck'] is a versatile guard who can create for himself with or without the ball in his hands. He also leads the team in scoring and rebounds and is second in assists. [player_tooltip player_id='1577959' first='Caleb' last='Kelley'] is a lengthy wing who is a good cutter off of the ball which takes pressure off of Tyson on the offensive end. Caleb is also a good shooter coming off of screens making him another knockdown shooter on the team. Gharret Lawerence runs the point guard spot doing a good job of making crisp passes to his teammates. Vista Ridge has a big match-up tonight facing Doherty.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2. Valor Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Valor Christian has shown the ability to take down top teams as they can score with anyone in the state. This team runs a lot of four-guard lineups spreading the floor with a lot of shooters on the floor. Running the point guard spot standout sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1369810' first='Cole' last='Scherer']. Cole is an impressive ambidextrous finisher at the rim who is not afraid of finishing over bigger defenders. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='921110' first='Archer' last='VanSickle'] has added knockdown shooting off the catch and is a creative scorer off of the dribble. His classmate [player_tooltip player_id='1577998' first='Hunter' last='Guiles'] has been a very good rebounder from the guard position and can go on big scoring runs that can shift the momentum of games. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1369793' first='Eli' last='Kim'] has been a knockdown spot-up shooter and a solid on-ball defender. 6'5 F [player_tooltip player_id='1421260' first='Ryan' last='Dixon'] has been showing his athleticism throwing down exhilarating dunks on the break and through traffic. 6'7 F [player_tooltip player_id='1754347' first='Clark' last='Hodge'] is a stock-boosting senior who has been a solid passer and screener this season. This team has good depth and is solid making them candidates to make a good run in the playoffs this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3. Fountain-Fort Carson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fountain-Fort Carson is another team from Colorado Springs that has been turning heads with their 14-2 record. This team is led by three-point specialist [player_tooltip player_id='1715226' first='Antonio' last='Joseph Martinez']. Joseph is good at getting the ball quickly into his shooting pocket and hitting shots in a hurry coming off of screens. [player_tooltip player_id='1754458' first='William' last='Tony'] is a solid contributor from the wing who leads the team in rebounding and steals. Tonio Martinez is a good facilitator and scorer near the rim. 6'6 sophomore G James Murray adds good defensive switchability allowing him to guard multiple positions on the floor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4. Regis Jesuit</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Regis Jesuit is a well-coached team that has shown the ability to hang with top teams in the state. Regis is led by senior standout PG [player_tooltip player_id='1284427' first='TaRea' last='Fulcher']. Tarea is a tough downhill scorer who uses his scoring gravity to create for himself and others. [player_tooltip player_id='1754354' first='Joe' last='Dorais'] is one of the best shooters in the state who has been shooting 45% while taking a lot of shots. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='973003' first='Cole' last='Records'] has returned from injury he has been a solid role player for the team being a good cutter and rebounder from the wing. [player_tooltip player_id='1577975' first='Damarius' last='Taylor'] has been a standout junior who uses screens to get to his pull-up jumper off of the dribble. This team has good depth and the potential to make a good run this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5. Arvada West</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arvada West is coming fresh off of some big wins recently beating Valor Christian and Fort Collins. This team has a great senior duo made up of [player_tooltip player_id='1420177' first='Jasper' last='Padia'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1285117' first='Carson' last='Nichols']. Jasper is a big wing who is a deadly scorer close to the basket and in the mid-range. He uses his size and athleticism to step around defenders and score at the rim. [player_tooltip player_id='1285117' first='Carson' last='Nichols'] is having a huge stock-boosting season showing off his versatility as a big guard. He is a good rebounder, all-around scorer, and can play the point guard role. This duo alone will help them compete and make a potential run in the playoffs this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->