Games of the Weekend: Week 4

<p>There were already some very interesting games this week where there were plenty of upsets, some overtime thrillers and also a few blowouts, but we head into a big weekend where some teams begin league play, as well as a few attempt to get a few out of conference wins before they head into league play. Here are a few of my favorite games for the weekend as well as the game of the weekend. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Friday</strong></p> <p><em>Grandview v. Arapahoe</em></p> <p>This is the moment that we have been waiting for, specifically for Arapahoe. They have passed every single test thus far as they head into league play with an impressive 8-1 record and also cracked the top-10 and are now up against one of the favorites in unarguably the toughest conference in 5A, the Grandview Wolverines. Korey Hess and Bryson Stephens have been on a tear to begin the season. Hess is averaging a team-high 18.3 points which put him amongst the top of the Centennial league as well. He gets to the rim and finishes, possesses range and also is great in the open court and his running-mate Stephens is at 15.8 points a game and is a bigger guard that uses his strength and size to his advantage. Those two will have to have a huge game if they plan on taking a pretty good team with size and have others step up as well as the team with the better ranking heading into the matchup.</p> <p>Only one thing, Grandview is battle-tested, have the size and two of the better players in the state in Caleb McGill and Lian Ramiro and have added incentive as they are coming off of a double-overtime thrilling loss in league play to the Smoky Hill Buffaloes so they understand they have to win and will do everything in their power to get right. McGill is leading the team at 16.3 points and 8.0 rebounds a game and will be the player that Grandview goes through as he has the advantage more often than not. Against Arapahoe his size will truly come into play as they do not have anyone to match up with his size and physicality. Expect a big game for him. Ramiro and Hess will have a fun matchup as a top guard matchup and also two of the most improved players in the state in my opinion. Ramiro is at 14.6 ppg and 4.3 apg as well and is coming off of a game where he put up 25 points in including six 3-pointers. He is a player that excels in iso situations with a nice cross over, can shoot the ball very well and also gets others involved.</p> <p>Expect a game where the guard play will be phenomenal but size might just be too much.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Overland versus Cherry Creek</em></strong></p> <p>This is a matchup between two teams that were both poised to have very big senior seasons but have seemed to take two different paths. Creek is 7-3 on the season and Overland is 3-7.</p> <p>The Bruins are a deep guard-heavy team that is led by Julian Hammond III that has found his rhythm and is putting up 22.1 points a game while also rebounding the ball very well and showing his massive improvements as a defender at 3.1 steals a game as well. Add in Myles Purchase, Sebastian Cole and now Thomas Hawley has stepped up as one of the go-to players and this is a team that really can go after any team in the state based on simply guard play alone. They share the ball, attack on the defensive end and are capable of putting up some big-time scoring games. This will be a game that they are up for.</p> <p>Overland is still trying to find themselves but still compete and have to find a way to finish out games. Hezekiah Swanson finally had one of his typical types of games in the Trailblazers close loss to Chaparral as he finished with 17 points but could not keep that rhythm against Eagle crest the next day. He has to get in the flow and with players such as Vinni Veikalas, Kaleb Chaney, Elias Hill and Trevon Deden leading the way this senior-led class needs to dig deep and figure out how to win these close games. They have some tough losses on the season but the good thing is most were out of state. They can find a flow going into league play and this is a game that they have to win as it does not get any easier for them, each night out from here will be a tough one.</p> <p>Expect a high-scoring affair and great battle of the guards. There will be some big-time finishers in this game and I’ll even guess someone goes for 25+.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Saturday</strong></p> <p><em>Pine Creek v. Fountain Fort-Carson</em></p> <p>Pine Creek is off to a 7-1 start and that is something that I feel is not being talked about enough.</p> <p>Yes, they have a few blowout wins against teams that they are supposed to beat but they also have a couple of solid wins as well. And in convincing fashion. Peyton Westfall has picked up where he left off as one of the better shooters in the class as he is now up to 14.3 points a game but he has also shown signs of elite athleticism as well as he dunks the ball and finishes above the rim as well now. Expect a big game from him. Alongside him is also Kedarian Maul who is at 7.3 points and 9.7 rebounds a game and also Kenny Pham that does a bit of everything. This is a good team that has begun the season well and if they continue to rack up these wins there is no way that they don’t start getting the credit that they deserve.</p> <p>The two teams just played each other two games ago and Pine Creek came away with a lopsided win but that was without Fountain Fort-Carson’s best scorer having a good game. Keyshawn Maltbia finished with only six points in the game so look for him to get off to an aggressive start and maybe even match his game total in the opening frame. Isaiah Thompson is having a stellar start to the season and averaging a double-double in his big junior season and I am expecting him to find a bit of room to get loose here as well.</p> <p>I am expecting this one to be a lot closer.</p> <p><em>Denver East v. Chaparral</em></p> <p>This is the game that we have all been waiting for as it is Denver East’s first real test of the entire season. East has been on a warpath and clearing out every team in their way but now gets to go against a battle-tested team that gets after it and has the players to match up with them as well. The guard play will be very interesting to watch as the top guard in the 2020 class Kobe Sanders (18.7 ppg &amp; 4.6 apg) and sophomore sensation Jeremiah Coleman(11.7 ppg &amp; 3.4 apg) are up against top sophomore in the state Langston Reynolds (21.7 ppg &amp; 6.7 apg), Patrick Steed (12.4 ppg &amp; 3.9 spg) and also sophomore guard Quis Davis(7.6 ppg &amp; 6.9 apg) also in the backcourt ready to show off while they have not been tested much they are ready to take on any and all challengers. That will be fun to watch.</p> <p>Down low is also Aaron Jacob who is also coming off of his best game of the season against Lewis-Palmer where he put up 17 points to lead the team and will be the X-factor as East does not have much size but make up for it in athleticism. The player that can change the whole dynamic is the game is junior combo-guard Boston Stanton III who is a 6’3 guard that has a polished game and is able to score with ease but also has the strength and motor to bang down low as well as space the floor. He is at 21.8 ppg and also 6.8 rebounds and I am going to say that depending on how well he does is what factors into who wins the game. Slow him down and Chaparral comes away with the victory. Let him get started and be in for a long night.</p> <p>This is easily the game of the weekend.</p>