5A Tourney Second-Round Preview and Prediction: Ray C. Ball Region

The Ray C. Ball Region has the defending champion and a handful of intriguing second-round matchup. We take a closer look at each of the regions for Saturday games below: <strong>No. 8 Liberty (12-12) at No. 1 Overland (20-3), 1 p.m.</strong> The road to another championship begins in earnest for Overland in its opening game of the postseason against Liberty. The Trailblazers, much like last season, hit a bump in the road with midseason, in-state losses to Regis Jesuit, Grandview and Eaglecrest -- the latter without big man De'Ron Davis. But as they did last season, the Trailblazers seem to be figuring things out at the right time. They have a great blend of athleticism, with players like Jervae Robinson, Padiet Wang, Alijah Halliburton, Tyler Stevenson and Reggie Gibson all becoming solidified in their roles alongside Davis. That will be a lot of depth Overland can throw at Liberty and star guard T.J. Clark, one of the state's better unsigned 2016 guards, who made a game-winning shot in the Lancers' opening-round victory on Tuesday. <strong>Prediction:</strong> Overland <strong>No. 5 Far Northeast Warriors (18-6) at No. 4 Boulder (17-6), 1 p.m.</strong> The Warriors like to run, push the pace and use their rangy athleticism to disrupt opponents. Boulder excels in the half court, running crisp offensive sets that often result in good looks for a handful of talented shooters. That contrast makes this one of the most intriguing games on the state schedule on Saturday. Boulder faced a similar foe earlier this season, defeating George Washington 60-51, a mark well below the Patriots' normal high-scoring average. So the Panthers know what they are in for. This game will come down to which team will best be able to insert its will on the other, and a matchup of two of the state's top 2016 guards in Boulder's Landon Taliaferro and FNE's Sekou Cisse is a prime subplot. <strong>Prediction:</strong> Boulder <strong>No. 6 Arapahoe at No. 3 Rock Canyon, 3 p.m.</strong> If not for a pair of could-have-gone-either-way losses at the end of the season, Rock Canyon might have been sitting on a No. 1 line instead of a three-spot. That's how good this team has been, and that's how big the challenge is for Arapahoe. Sam Masten, our No. 2 player in the 2018 class, has demonstrated tremendous growth for Rock Canyon. He can score in a multitude of ways, but what has been especially encouraging is how hard he works to get the ball. He's like former Pistons star Rip Hamilton in that he never rests, continually pushing around screens or setting them and rolling to space or bringing the ball up by himself. That constant motion puts stress on defenses, wearing them down before he even gets the ball. That has opened up numerous opportunities for others, and the Jaguars' role players have stepped up in a big way this season. Isaac Hirsch is a gnat for opponents, his motor a major factor on both ends of the court. Noah Beck has hit big shots all season, Payton Berman has been a trusted ball-handler, JT Bley has brought energy and strength inside, Colin Rardin has stretched defenses, the list goes on. This team has pieces that fit well together. Arapahoe, too, has found success in chemistry. A year ago, Brad Jansen took over just before the season started, creating growing pains. This year, a group of upperclassmen leaders have strongly bonded. It's also helped that junior 6-5 wing Kyle Lukasiewicz has blossomed into one of the state's top juniors, blending his long-striding attack ability with an improving perimeter shot that has helped him become a scoring force. <strong>Prediction:</strong> Rock Canyon <strong>No. 7 Lakewood (15-9) at No. 2 Doherty (20-3), 6 p.m.</strong> Beware the 3-point line. Kolton Peterson, Lakewood's junior sharpshooter, will have the Tigers thinking upset when they head down I-25 south to Colorado Springs. Peterson, who has already garnered an offer from Air Force and has gained other mid-major Division-I attention, has made 74 3-pointers this season and is shooting 44 percent from long range. Dallas Bailey (37 3-pointers made), Jacob Storey (17) and Keenan Roark (11) have also chipped in from distance. Still, the Tigers face a very tall order playing a Doherty team with one of the top five combo guards in the state in senior Dalven Brushier, one of its top junior point guards in Brevin Brimble, a plus-perimeter defender in Emmanuel Burleson and a gym that can get rocking with any in the Rocky Mountains. Doherty has been able to play up-tempo, and they have worked going into the postseason, coach Jarris Krapcha said recently, on further improving their half-court sets, fully aware that games at this stage in the season can get slogged down. The Spartans have Final Four dreams, and they'll certainly be tested out of the gates. <strong>Prediction:</strong> Doherty &nbsp;