3A Playoffs: Great 8 Preview (Lower half)

<p>With the 3A Great 8 tipping off tomorrow down at The University of Denver, we take a deeper look into the four teams in the lower half of the bracket.  The Vanguard School will take on Sterling at 10:15 am and the other game between Faith Christian and Alamosa will be a 1:15 pm tipoff.   </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>(2) The Vanguard School vs. (10) Sterling </strong></span></p> <p>The Vanguard School earned the second seed in the 3A playoffs and have taken care of work earlier on so far.  They are led by senior star [player_tooltip player_id="606413" first="Dominique" last="Clifford"] who is averaging a monster double-double on the season at 24.7 PPG and 13.3 RPG to go along with 6.1 APG, 3.6 SPG, 2.7 BPG.  If you have seen him play, you know what he is capable of doing to the opposing teams.  He also has several threats around him on his team that make them a tough matchup for anyone.  Joseph Padilla, a senior has decent size at 6’2 and is averaging: 14.6 PPG, 4.0 APG, 3.5 RPG, 2.9 SPG on the year.  He had a monster game in their last playoff win over University, he finished with 28 points, hitting five threes in the game as well as five assists and five steals.  Ryan Lair a junior is also chipping in: 10.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, he can score from all three levels and has good vision.  The Sterling Tigers are led by two seniors in [player_tooltip player_id="915308" first="Axel" last="Henry"] and [player_tooltip player_id="915305" first="Brock" last="Shalla"].  Henry is averaging a team high 16.9 points per game as well as 4.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, 2.0 SPG, Shalla is right behind him, putting up 16.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 4.0 APG, 3.3 SPG.  Both players can score from all three levels on the court and play under control making the right decisions each time down the floor as well as impact the game with their defense.  Senior Dylan Anderson is also averaging double figures in scoring at 11.1 PPG and 3.6 RPG, he leads the team in three pointers made this season (57).  The Tigers also have a sophomore in Jackson Keli who is third on the team in scoring at 12.4 PPG as well as 3.4 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, who should continue to grow into a strong player.  This should be a fun matchup with both teams scoring over 65 points a game, it might come down to who can get the most stops in this one. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(3) Faith Christian vs. (11) Alamosa </span></strong></p> <p>Faith Christian secured the number three seed in the playoffs and have taken care of business so far.  They are led by 6’5 senior [player_tooltip player_id="915314" first="Caleb" last="Ruter"] who is averaging: 15.5 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.5 BPG on the year.  He has good size and is able to score from all three levels, but does the majority of his work from inside the arc were he is shooting 56% on the year (131/233).  Their second leading scorer is 6'4 junior Caleb Clark who is averaging: 11.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.7 APG, and shots 44% from distance on the year (49/111).  He scored double figures in their first two playoff wins, knocking down two threes in each game.  Senior Isaish Kroll is another player that can impact the game for the Eagles, he is putting up 9.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.1 SPG on the season and does all of his scoring from inside the arc, shooting 53% from two point range (93/176).  Faith Christian lost to Alamosa in their third game of the season by a score of 56-53.  For Alamosa, it's 6'5 senior  Breden Crowther who is averaging: 15.0 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.0 SPG.  He has not shot the ball too well from deep this year, but he is a player that can score from every level on the floor. Senior Ian Jackson is also averaging 15.0 PPG to go along with 5.9 RPG, and does most of his work from inside the three, shooting 46% from two-point range (106/228).  Jackson would finish with 18 points in the first matchup earlier in the year.  6'4 junior Isaiah Harrell has had a strong start to the playoffs, scoring double digits in both games so far.  He is averaging: 7.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.5 APG, shooting 53% from inside the arc (72/136).  Harrell finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in their first meeting.  These two teams are pretty well balanced and it should be another close game between the two for a chance in the final four.  </p>