A look at each of the Class 5A Great 8 matchups set for Friday (girls) and Saturday (boys) at the Denver Coliseum:
Boys
No. 1 ThunderRidge (23-2) vs. No. 9 Rock Canyon (17-7)
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Players to watch: TR — Zach Keller, 6-9, sr. (14.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.5 bpg); Joey Biello, 6-7, sr. (12.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.0 bpg); Jackson Brennen, 6-4, sr. (13.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.1 apg). RC — Gavin Hershberger, 5-10, jr. (13.9 ppg, 3.6 apg); Chris Schlesinger, 6-6, sr. (12.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.5 apg); Braxton Jones, 6-4, sr. (13.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg).
What to know: The defending 5A champion Grizzlies trailed Heritage and Air Academy after the first quarter in each of their first two state tournament games but survived both upset bids. The Jaguars knocked off Mountain Vista in a dramatic 57-56 Sweet 16 win on the road, after Bryson Linder’s last-second shot was off the mark. ThunderRidge claimed the teams’ one regular season meeting, 63-50.
No. 4 Denver East (23-2) vs. No. 5 Douglas County (21-3)
Time: 5 p.m.
Players to watch: DE — Quis Davis, 6-0, sr.; Aguirr Dwam, 6-8, sr.; D’Aundre Samuals, 6-2, jr. DC — Jaeton Hackley, 6-0, sr. (15.2 ppg, 4.7 apg, 3.0 spg); Ty Nettles, 5-10, sr. (12.7 ppg, 3.3 apg, 2.7 spg); AJ Jackson, 6-2, sr. (10.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.7 apg).
What to know: Denver East has three wins against fellow 5A Great 8 teams this season, including an 87-50 rout of Douglas County in December that saw the Angels hold the Huskies to 18-of-69 shooting (26.1%). That was the Huskies’ lone double-digit loss this season. They are 13-2 since, scoring 70 points or more in eight of those wins.
No. 2 Fossil Ridge (24-1) vs. No. 26 Legacy (18-8)
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Players to watch: FR — Brock Mishak, 6-3, sr. (20.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.2 apg); Nick Randall, 6-7, jr. (17.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 1.7 bpg). LEG — Jaycee Stelling, 6-2, sr. (10.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.5 apg); Jack Debell, 6-2, sr. (10.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.7 spg).
What to know: The SaberCats’ lone loss of the season came to top seed ThunderRidge. Since then, they’ve won 19 straight (14 by double digits), including a 71-39 victory over Legacy on Feb. 11. This is just the sixth Legacy boys basketball team to post a winning record since 2006, and the first to reach the Great 8.
No. 3 Chaparral (20-4) vs. No. 6 Eaglecrest (20-4)
Time: 2 p.m.
Players to watch: CH — Luke Williams, 5-11, sr. (16.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.8 apg); Joel Speckman II, 6-9, sr. (15.5 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 1.7 bpg). EAG — Mostapha Elmoutaouakkil, 6-5, sr. (20.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.5 apg); Jayden Washington 6-5, sr. (12.2 ppg, 5.8m rpg, 2.2 apg).
What to know: Chaparral is 2-3 against this year’s 5A Great 8, but also the lone Colorado team to beat ThunderRidge, which the Wolverines did convincingly (62-41). Eaglecrest is the last Centennial League team standing thanks in part to emerging freshman LaDavian King, who’s scored 18 and 15 points with six 3-pointers in back-to-back playoff wins.
GIRLS
No. 1 Valor Christian (21-3) vs. No. 8 Chaparral (18-6)
Time: 8:30 p.m.
Players to watch: VC — Raegan Beers, 6-3, sr. (19.7 ppg, 13.3 rpg, 2.0 bpg); Macey Huard, 6-2, jr. (12.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.9 spg); Quinn VanSickle, 5-8, fr. (11.9 ppg, 2.5 apg, 2.0 spg). CH — Avery Bang, 6-2, sr. (15.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.0 apg); Payton Bang, 6-2, sr. (12.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.3 spg).
What to know: Since losing to Grandview on Jan. 8, Valor Christian has ripped off 14 consecutive double-digit wins, including a 59-34 demolition of Chaparral. The Oregon State-bound Beers has 19 double-doubles, but will have her hands full with the Bang twins, who helped limit Beers to her lowest scoring output of the season (10).
No. 13 Fossil Ridge (19-6) vs. No. 5 Arapahoe (17-7)
Time: 4 p.m.
Players to watch: FR — Kate Davis, 5-9, jr. (14.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg); Ella Lavigne, so. (10.2 ppg, 9.1 rpg). AR — Sam Crispe, 6-2, sr. (14.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg); Sydney White, 5-10, jr. (12.8 ppg, 3.9 apg, 2.4 spg).
What to know: Fossil Ridge upset No. 4 Monarch to reach the Great 8 for the fourth time in five years, with rising sophomore Kaycee Steinke scoring in double digits for the third straight game. Next up is an Arapahoe team out of the rugged Centennial League that is in the Great 8 for the second straight season.
No. 2 Highlands Ranch (20-4) vs. No. 7 Doherty (22-3)
Time: 7 p.m.
Players to watch: HR — Emily Hovasse, 5-7, sr. (16.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.4 apg); Alex Pirog, 6-3, sr. (12.7 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 1.8 bpg); Tori Baker, 5-7, fr. (9.7 ppg, 4.0 apg, 2.0 spg). DO — Peyton Sterk, 5-10, sr. (15.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.2 spg); Gabby Beauperthuy, 5-11, sr. (14.4 ppg, 9.3 rpg).
What to know: Highlands Ranch coach Caryn Jarocki has her Falcons peaking at the right time once again, with a 16-game winning streak putting them on the verge of their 15th 20-win season since 2006-07. Doherty is riding a lengthy streak of its own (17 in a row), but has yet to face any of the other 5A Great 8 teams this season.
No. 3 Grandview (15-9) vs. No. 6 Cherry Creek (18-6)
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Players to watch: GR — Lauren Betts, 6-7, sr. (17.1 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 3.4 bpg); Marya Hudgins, 6-0, sr. (16.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.4 apg); Sienna Betts, 6-3, fr. (10.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 3.5 apg). CC — Tianna Chambers, 6-0, fr. (11.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.9 apg); A’Neya Chambers, 5-10, fr. (8.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.2 spg).
What to know: Don’t be fooled by Grandview’s record — eight of the Wolves’ nine losses came against out-of-state opponents. The Wolves have played, and beaten, Cherry Creek twice. Although, the second meeting was just a seven-point win in Greenwood Village. The Bruins are just getting started: The team’s top three scorers this season are freshmen, and the fourth (6-footer Sophia Baldessari) is a sophomore.
