The 2017 Class 4A and Class 5A boysbasketball Final Four will be held Fridayat the Denver Coliseum. The following is a look at each game.
Class 4A
No. 1 Valor Christian (22-4) vs.No. 12 Golden (19-7), 4 p.m.
Coaching battle:Valor Christian’s Troy Pachner (2nd season) vs. Golden’s John Anderson (19th season)
Star watch:Valor Christian seniorsJalen Sanders andKayle Knuckles; Golden juniorAdam Thistlewood, senior Kayden Sund and juniorJoe Madsen
ᾱٴǰ:Neither program has won a state title.
The key:In the third meeting between the two teams this season, Thistlewood musthave a big night for Golden to pull off the upset. The Demons must also limitSanders, who has twice scored more than 20 points on their Jeffco League rival.
No. 2 Pueblo South (20-6) vs.No. 6 Lewis-Palmer (22-4), 5:30 p.m.
Coaching battle:Pueblo South’sDJ Johnson (7th season) vs. Lewis-Palmer’s Bill Benton (4th season)
Star watch:Pueblo South seniorDeshiloh Stanley and juniorJeremy Cody; Lewis-Palmer sophomoreJoel Scott, seniorBilly Cook and senior Angelo Battistelli
ᾱٴǰ:Pueblo South is looking for its third title and first since 2001; Lewis-Palmer is seeking its fourth title and first since 2013.
The key:In a meeting of two red-hot teams, whatever star plays his best game — Stanley for Pueblo South and Scott for Lewis-Palmer — will likely be the difference.
Class 5A
No. 2 ThunderRidge (24-2) vs.No. 3 George Washington (24-2), 7 p.m.
Coaching battle:ThunderRidge’s Joe Ortiz (21st season) vs. George Washington’s Reggie Hammons Jr. (7th season)
Star watch:ThunderRidge senior Corey Seng and junior Kaison Hammonds; George Washington senior Jervay Green, senior Calvin Fugett and junior Jon’il Fugett.
History:ThunderRidge is looking for its third title and first since 2003; George Washington seeking sixth title and first since 1994.
The key: Both teams have the firepower to run away with this game, so controlling momentum and pace is crucial.
No. 1 Eaglecrest (22-4) vs.No. 5 Rock Canyon (23-3), 8:30 p.m.
Coaching battle:Eaglecrest’s John Olander (15th season) vs. Rock Canyon’s Kent Grams (5th season)
Star watch:Eaglecrest seniors Colbey Ross and Ikenna Ozor; Rock Canyon junior Sam Masten, senior Colin Rardin and senior JT Bley.
ᾱٴǰ:Eaglecrest is looking for its second title; Rock Canyon has not won a state title.
The key:The showdown between Ross and Masten is intriguing, but ultimately the battle in the post between each team’s array of big men will decide the rebound battle and probably the game.
