With the Class 5A and Class 4A state tournaments entering the Great 8 round this weekend, The Denver Post preps editor Kyle Newman offers a preview.
CLASS 5A
Boys — Saturday, March 4, Denver Coliseum
No. 4 Grandview (21-4) vs. No. 5 Rock Canyon (22-3), 12:30 p.m.:It’s a shametwo programs that are chasing their first championships have to meet in the Great 8, where one team will have its dream season ended. Coach Kent Grams led Rock Canyon to the most wins in program history this season as well as the team’s first Continental League title, in large part due to the guard play of juniors Sam Masten and Tyson Gilbert. Seniors JT Bley and Sam Masten have been strong down low. Meanwhile, Grandview coach Michael Rodgers led his team to a school record for wins, with senior point guard Leshaun Duhart and senior center Gage Prim giving the Wolves a lethal one-two punch.
No. 1 Eaglecrest (21-4) vs. No. 9 Denver East (18-7), 2 p.m.:Coach John Olander leads Eaglecrest, the Centennial League champs and 2016 state runner-up, against 11-time state champion Denver East. In Olander’s last season on the bench, the game-planning chess match against Denver East coach Rudy Carey iskey, as isthe showdown of two of the top players in the state, Raptors senior Colbey Ross (18.2 points per game) going head to head with Angels junior Daylen Kountz (26.9). Eaglecrest beat Denver East 55-49 on Jan. 23.
No. 3 George Washington (23-2) vs. No. 11 Fort Collins (22-3), 5 p.m.:George Washington continues its pursuit of its sixth title and first since 1994, when Chauncey Billups led GW to the crown. The Patriots’ top-ranked offense in 5A at 84.3 points per game is well-equipped with senior point guard Jervay Green, senior guard Calvin Fugett and juniorguard Jon’il Fugett, whose scoring capabilities are complimented by senior guardShaheem Speer and junior power forwardTre Pierce. But the Patriots can’t afford to overlook coach Monty Alcaraz and Fort Collins, a team that had five players score in double figures in a Sweet 16 win over upstart Arapahoe and is headlined by senior guardJacob Pfaffinger.
No. 2 ThunderRidge (23-2) vs. No. 7 Chatfield (24-1), 6:30 p.m.:ThunderRidge cruised into the Great 8 with a 21-point win over No. 15 Rampart, while Chatfield is headed back to the Denver Coliseum for the second year in a row after Wednesday’s Sweet 16 victory over No. 10 Cherry Creek made the Chargers a perfect 27-0 at home over the past two seasons.Both teams are ranked in the top five in 5A in points per game, but it will be defense that decides this battle. ThunderRidge needs to limit a few of the Chargers’ five players who are averaging double figures and Chatfield needs to keep Corey Seng and Kaison Hammonds in check.
Class 4A
Boys — Saturday, March 4, Higher Seed Hosts
No. 9 Mead (21-4) at No. 1 Valor Christian (21-4), 7 p.m.:Seniors Michael Ward (21.6 points per game) and Alex Sandstorm (12.0) lead the Longhorns into a road test at Valor Christian,which is riding a 13-game win streak and has not lost since Jan. 11. Valor Christian topped Mead79-53 on Jan. 3in Longmont, a game in which Eagles seniorJalen Sanders went off for 33 points and seniorKayle Knuckles had 16 points and 11 rebounds. The battle on the boards will be huge for Mead in order to keep Valor Christian from second-chance points.
No. 13 Evergreen (20-5) at No. 12 Golden (18-7), 7 p.m.:These two Jeffco League foes meet again when it matters most, with Evergreen having claimed both regular season games over Golden. Coach Scott Haebe’s Cougars are led by senior Michael Dillon’s 15.3 points per game while the Demons are paced by juniorAdam Thistlewood’s 18.8 scoring average.
No. 7 Pueblo West (23-2) at No. 2 Pueblo South (19-6), 7 p.m.:Defending champion Pueblo West will have to overcome a city rival on the road in order to continue its bid for a repeat. It won’t be easy considering Pueblo South defeated the Cyclones 67-64 on Feb. 10. Pueblo West still came away with the South Central Conference title, and this time the guard battle between Cyclones seniorDavid Simental andColts seniorDeshiloh Stanley will be the key to advancing to the Final Four.
No. 6 Lewis-Palmer (21-4) at No. 3 D’Evelyn (21-4), 6 p.m.:Coach Bill Benton’s Rangers have reeled off 17 consecutive wins heading into Saturday’s game, and feature three equally capable scorers in sophomore shooting guard Joel Scott, senior point guard Billy Cook and senior centerAngelo Battistelli. D’Evelyn looks to senior guardCJ Olson, junior power forwardCharles Dinegar and senior guardJosh Brinkerhoff to make the program’s first Final Four showing under second-year head coachDan Zinn.
