3A X-Factors in the Great 8 Northern Region

<p>There are star players galore still remaining in the 3A Great 8. These players have done everything in their power to make sure that their teams have advanced to the next round and keep winning. While those players get most of the attention, there are X-factors and players that star in their role that helped lead to games. Here, we focus on one player per team that has helped get their team to this point as well. </p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: impact, sans-serif;">Resurrection Christian</span></span></h3> <p>Resurrection Christian went through the entire season with an undefeated record and are trying to cap off a special season. The reason for their success is them having a complete bunch that is led by seniors [player_tooltip player_id= "770335" first=" Reece" last=" Johnson"] and Isaac Jessup. Johnson is a Colorado Mesa commit that is averaging 18.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists a game and does everything that is asked of him each night. He is going to give his team the advantage more often than not with backcourt running mate Jessup putting up 17.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists a game while also being one of the best defenders in the state as well averaging 5.0 steals a game. Those two will have to be their consistent selves, and that puts Ressurection Christian in the spots to win games, but what really separates them is when senior guard [player_tooltip player_id= "915348" first= "Jackson" last=" Romero"] is playing well. Romero is a 1,000 points scored member in his career and has stepped into his role as a true point guard that takes and makes big shots. He is averaging 9.5 points and 5.2 assists a game and in the Cougars one-point win over Lutheran earlier in the season it was Romero that won the game with the game-winning shot. Romero will have to take care of the ball and also be another scoring threat as Lutheran has the size, but guard play is where Resurrection Christian has the advantage. Expect Romero to make plays throughout the game, and if it comes down to the wire, I know whose hands to put the ball in.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: impact, sans-serif;">Lutheran</span></span></h3> <p>Everyone in the state knows the name [player_tooltip player_id="921100" first="Baye" last="Fall"]. [player_tooltip player_id="921100" first="Baye" last="Fall"] is a 6’10 freshman who is an elite defender that has already picked up national attention. He is at 19.9 points and 10.9 rebounds a game while also manning the middle and blocking 3.6 shots a game. His confidence is growing, and that is only getting scarier for the rest of the state as he will most likely dominate for the next three seasons but who will step up alongside him. The player that I feel can impact the game the most alongside him is 6'7 junior Mamadou Sow. When Sow is dealing inside, there are not many things that you can do with a team with this kind of size. He already has the size to attack, but he also knows how to move around his weight and back players down. The first time that Lutheran and Resurrection Christian played one another, Lutheran was the No.1 team in 3A and lost a close one. Sow had 12 points in that game and will have to do a bit more if they plan on winning. Resurrection Christian does not have the players to match his size, so he must hit all of the chip shots that he gets. He also has to play off of Fall and grab every rebound that does not go his way.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: impact, sans-serif;">Centauri</span></span></h3> <p>Centauri heads into the Great 8 as the No.5 seed, and their opponent is the defending 3A champs who have been playing with a chip on their shoulder. Centauri counters that with a sophomore standout Baron Holman who is averaging 12.9 points and 5.9 rebounds a game and he is a young guard who uses his speed to blow by defenders to get to the rim. Ironically, the Falcons X-factor and second-leading scorer is Baron's older brother, Alec Holman, who got the opportunity to play alongside his sibling for the past two seasons and is enjoying their best season together. Alec is averaging 9.3 points and 3.6 rebounds a game and is a consistent source of scoring inside. The two brothers will have their hands full with a Manual team that is guard-heavy and is capable of matching up with any team in the state. If Centauri plans on dethroning the defending champs, they will need stellar guard play.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-family: impact, sans-serif;">Manual</span></h3> <p>When speaking on the defending champs, there are only so many words that can be said before mentioning Jaden Stoffel. Stofell made 1^st Team All-State as a junior, and in his senior season, although the Thunderbolts have not won as many games this season, Stoffel has Manual within striking distance and ready to protect the throne. Stoffel is averaging 25.5 points a game and shoots lights out from deep. Teams have tried double-teaming him, but it hasn't seemed to work as Manual has a surrounding cast around him that has appeared to come into their own. The player that has stepped up and will have to continue to take over in games is sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id= "618880" first=" Jordan" last=" Reed"]. Reed is one of the top sophomores in the entire state, and while he has taken a bit of a back seat, he has shown that he is also capable of exploding for big games. Reed put up 14.5 points a game this season and is a confident ball handler that can shoot the ball as well as get others involved. His work on the boards and in catch and shoot situations will prove critical for their upcoming game against Centauri.</p>