In the second full week of the 2016-17 CHSAA basketball season, here’s five things to know:
1. The top 5A teams are already beating up on each other. Look for that to continue all season.
No. 5 George Washington defeated No. 6 Rock Canyon in the title game of the Rock Canyon/Mountain Vista Tournament, and this week No. 1 Eaglecrest fell to Rock Canyon on the road. Expect more of the same throughout non-conference play and during the array of prestigious December tournaments as teams navigate through difficult schedules designed to help them look good in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI).
2. Lakewood’s Kolton Peterson continues to make it rain at a historic pace.
The Tigers’ senior entered the season with 227 career three-pointers and has already surpassed the 5A career three-point record just four games into the season. If Peterson keeps draining from downtown—and if other key Lakewood seniors such as Dallas Bailey, Jacob Storey and Brandt Christy continue to elevate their game—the Tigers (4-0) will be a tough out come state tournament time.
3. Class 4A is laden with Division I guard talent.
Pueblo West’s David Simental, Sierra’s CJ Jennings, Valor Christian’s Jalen Sanders and Sand Creek’s D’Shawn Schwartz prove this isn’t your father’s 4A field. All four of those guys are some of the top players in the state regardless of classification, and all four are a big reason why each of their respective teams are early-season championship favorites.
4. Overland, which graduated all five starters from last season’s title run, has reloaded once again.
The team’s opening victory over Regis Jesuit proved coach Danny Fisher’s cupboard is far from bare. A few siblings of stars from last season’s team—Goy Wang, younger brother of Padiet Wang, and Daijon Smith, younger brother of Alijah Halliburton—lead the scoring charge, while the likes of Tucson Redding, Stephen Hayes and Laolu Oke also give Overland the athleticism to contend in the Centennial League.
5. Fossil Ridge senior Braxton Bertolette is back with a bucket-getting vengeance.
After averaging 23.6 points and leading the Sabercats to the second round of the playoffs last season, the unassuming Bertolette is averaging 29.8 points through four games for Fossil Ridge. If he continues to score at that rate—and if fellow seniors Cam DeHart and Mike Schilling step up their play—the Sabercats are equipped to compete for the Front Range League title once again.
