Games of the Week: Week 2
This is a week that some of our teams are in tournaments so we are not able to show every single game of the week as I expect thee to be at least two more in the finals that are must watch worth especially in the Chaparral/Thunder Ridge tournament. With teams such as Smoky Hill, T-Ridge and Chaparral all being able to go at each other there aren’t many better games. However, this is an excellent week of basketball. Here’s who makes the list for the games of the week.
Tuesday
Lincoln versus Grandview
Make no mistake about it, this is the game of the week. This is a classic showdown of two of the best teams in the state going at it. Grandview is the top team in the state after they came off of a championship year and we finally get the opportunity to see them play. They return back the Tourney MVP in Dayne Prim as he looks to have his best season yet and repeat as champs. Alongside him is big man Tyler Unger who had an impressive summer and started getting college looks. The way they get through this one is through the big men as they are up against another set of dynamic big men.
Lincoln is out to prove that they might be young as they field mostly juniors, but, they are for real. They are coming off of winning the Denver Tip Off Classic in a high scoring game against Castle View. The Lancers have been led by Senior James Felton who has been phenomenal to start the season. He’s had some big games along with Kwaheem Brown to man the middle. Lincoln gets up and down the court with their bigger guys and are one of the more athletic teams in the state. This will be a battle of the bigs as it is a team full of fast paced athletes against a team that controls the pace entirely. Whoever does that win. This will be an epic game.
Wednesday
Manual Thunderbolts versus Arvada West
Manual is a team that is typically led by Jaedon Bradley-Bowles so it was surprising to see others step up and also have great games surrounding him. Both Bowles and Adontre Thompson scored 22 points apiece in their first game of the season. Thompson was an ultra-efficient 11-12 from the field and is set for a big Senior season. He also had 15 rebounds to go along with it and makes up a pretty good Manual squad that looks improved. Alongside them was Jaden Stoffell and Davion Davis who recorded 10 points as well. Davis also had five rebounds and is a player that I will have to take a closer look at as he has small intangibles that make him a pretty good player that is often overlooked will this be the year he puts it all together?
On the other side of them is a player that has been on a tear to start the year. Josh Rogers is off to an eye-dropping 31-points and 6.5 rebounds a game and does not look as if he will be stopping any time soon. Oliver Lindeblad (6.0 pts, 7.0 reb)and Josh Yago (6.5 pts, 4.0 rebs) have also got off to a great start to the season and Arvada West is 2-0 on the season. Manual will have their hands full in this one against a 5A team, but if they are able to compete in this one will surely be able to run through 3A this year.
Thursday
Mullen versus Lincoln
Mullen is a team that is going to give teams fits this year as they do not quit, they play together as a team and are very talented. They are going to surprise many teams and honestly have a chance at winning a very tough Centennial league. They have Christian Davis and Conor Riepma who stood out in their junior seasons and are ready to duplicate and exceed last year, they have an underrated player in Vaughnn Stitt and also Matt Veen. This is a loaded bunch that all believe in each other and they will be a good group to follow this season
Lincoln is having another game of the week which lets us know that this is a solid schedule that they had. They want the recognition and they are earning it by going up against top talent. This time it is against a solid Mullen team in which the guard play will have to separate them. Lincoln has quite the backcourt with Jahuale Veazy, Ty Foster, TJ Bamba and Ricarrdo Torres has lit it up from beyond the arc as well. The Lancers guards have to be up for the task against a talented Mullen team. Let’s see what happens.
Friday
Golden versus. George Washington
Friday sees some No. 10 action as Golden is the No. 10 team in 4A and GW is the NO. 10 team in 5A for the time being. Both haven’t gotten off to a great start as they are missing so much from last year’s teams that they are trying to bounce back and get on the right. For GW they have lost to Smoky Hill and also Highlands Ranch, Golden has lost to Holy Family and Centaurus and would like to get back on the right foot against a young Patriots team.
For the Patriots its Kendale Johnson Jr. as he is averaging 16.3 points a game alongside JoVon Nelson. Nelson is up to 21 points a game and provides energy and toughness to this relatively reserved unit. The Patriots have to find a way to break zones and hit shots. Malik Patton has been a difference maker downlow as he has been rebounding everything that’s come his way, Golden will have to combat an up and down unit.
Golden is led by Ilja Bubukin at 14 points a game. He is a consistent scorer that can get it done in multiple ways as he also rebounds well and sees the floor well. Ben McLaughlin has also been solid to start the year with 7.7 points and 2.3 rebounds a game and I truly feel as if it is a matter of time until Lou Vullo and the rest of the team comes together. This is a solid bunch that plays the right way, just give them some time.
Saturday
Rocky Canyon versus Grandview
Grandview is No. 1 of course and while it was the big men in the first game to watch it will be another battle of the guard’s game so Davon Walker, Lian Romero and Tyler Unger must be ready for a ferocious bunch of on-ball defenders. They will have to play the right way and limit their turnovers as Rock Canyon can easily turn those into points. Unger has to consistently knock down shots as he is capable of with Walker providing a nice inside and out game and feeding the big men. Romero is an above average playmaker that I expect to have a huge season as he can provide the balance that the team needs. This is a disciplined bunch so I am excited to see how they combat Rock Canyon’ perimeter defense.
Rock Canyon is not the team that they were last year, but that does not mean that they are not good. This is a team that just fell to Mountain Vista but still showcased how good they could be on defense. Jalen Ashley has emerged as a go to scorer as he is at 20 points a game and also rebounds with the best of them. Grant Figueroa has gotten it done with great size. He is a 6-7 guy who demands attention. He is at 10 points and seven rebounds a game. Jaylen Eikenburg is the heart and soul of this team and will have to string it together if they plan on winning. He is tasked with scoring more this year and getting out of the lock down defensive role. He is at 13 points and four assists a game but will have to up that number to give them a chance.