The boys in the Class 5A basketball tournament love this game.
Today, they will begin to show us how much.
Colorado’s big kids turned 16 last weekend and make up a third round at three sites (it used to be two) on pace to justify the competitive theme of 2007-08.
It’s still anyone’s title to win on March 15, a change from the past two decades during which the upper class usually has a heavy favorite in the final rounds.
Among the final 16 there are five teams each from the Centennial and Continental leagues, none from Jefferson County, rematches from league and nonleague play, only three of the top four seeds (overall No. 1 Poudre is out), 10 teams that won the previous round by nine or fewer points, and 12 that have championship mementos in their trophy cases.
The John Casey Region has a little of everything. Remember the buzz when Regis hired respected coach Ken Shaw last spring? It was more than justified last round, when Regis (R.J. Demps) knocked off Poudre and became the lowest seed (No. 8) to advance. Next up: Grand Junction. The Tigers are trying to match their only championship, in 1946. Palmer, led by Boston College-bound guard Reggie Jackson, arguably the state’s best player, seems to have righted itself. It will meet Aurora Central (Caston Mabin), which entered the three previous tournaments undefeated, finished second a year ago and survived a recent academic inquiry.
ThunderRidge (Austin Foote) continues in command of the R.W. Truscott Region and has been a fixture in March play since becoming Colorado’s last surprise winner, in 2002. In the way is Fairview and Travis Shepherd. Coincidently, the Knights are in with city foe Boulder (Mitchell Fraser), which has a date with balanced and capable George Washington (Thomas Bropleh), and victories for the rivals would mean a fourth meeting this season.
The bracket’s right side is different in that three of the past four games in the Glenn Wilson Region were decided by double figures. There’s familiarity, as defending 5A champion East (DaVaughn Thornton) and Mullen (Terrance Dent), who played in an early-season tournament (Mullen won), get to do it again. And there are opposites as Rocky Mountain (Brian Glenn) will try to out-athlete a more deliberate Cherry Creek (CU signee Trey Eckloff).
Bottom right, the Ray Ball Region’s Eaglecrest (Gage Wooten) has a prime opportunity to make its first state finals and will face Highlands Ranch (Jace Davis), a program enjoying success under its first- year coach, veteran Bob Caton. Plus, Continental power will account for another Rangeview (Reggie Evans)-Heritage (Collin Skufca) matchup. Rangeview, which won the first meeting by 11 points, is no surprise entry. Heritage, which took down Doherty last weekend, deserves credit for overachieving and wanting more.
