2015 5A Tournament Outlook – Ray C. Ball Region
By Matt Langley
www.BasketballColorado.com
2/24/2015
Denver, CO – The bottom half of the Ray C. Ball region is something special with the likelihood that the two teams facing each other in the Sweet 16 have already played each other this season. The top half of the bracket features the 2013 state champions and the 2014 state runner-ups. Will it be the perennial powers of Eaglecrest and Fossil Ridge that make it to Boulder or will it be one of the young but talented squads of Legend and George Washington?
Ray C. Ball Region – Rd 1
9 Aurora Central
8. Heritage
Aurora Central isn’t your typical #9 seed. The mid-season addition of 6’7 wing Daytone Jennings to the Trojans line up has helped immensely giving Central a double figures rebound guy and a legit scoring threat along with junior point guard LaDarius Thomas and wing Elijah Coleman. When the Trojans can get into the open court they are hard to stop.
Heritage is a fire tested Continental team. Senior Tom Skufca and junior Jack Peck lead the Eagles that have signature wins against Mountain Vista, Highlands Ranch and Boulder. But losses to Denver South, Ponderosa, and Castle View make it tough to pick them even at home.
Pick – Aurora Central
12. Legacy
5. Aravda West
Legacy and Arvada West have played already this year at the Ralston Valley Tournament with AWest winning by 15 points.
Legacy has only won five games since the Christmas break but 6 of their loss were by less than 10 points. In order for Legacy to pull this upset they will need to push A West back off the 3 point line and rebound.
Aravda West is lead by all state candidate and University of Denver signee senior guard Thomas Neff. The Wildcats have only lost two games since Christmas, both to Dakota Ridge. A West plays a team game and are very efficient on the offensive end of the floor.
Pick – Aravda West
10. Hinkley
7. Columbine
Hinkley is lead by wing Kelsy Williams but on any given night any one of the T-Birds can command a game. Hinkley is an improving team and a first round win could give the program a need jolt.
Columbine finished in 4th place in the 5A Jeffco league. Keaton Matthies , a senior, lead the Rebels in scoring this year. Columbine will need to be very effective on the boards to keep the T-Birds at bay.
Pick – Columbine
11. Rocky Mountian
6. Cherry Creek
The Lobos of Rocky Mountain have only won five games all year but on the bright side they are on a two game winning streak to end the season. In order for the Lobos to have a chance against Creek they will need to own the glass on both ends of the floor.
Cherry Creek has size with Lainer and Parr, and they have the solid guards with Jones, Halfon and Bower.
Pick – Cherry Creek
Game of the 1st Rd – Aurora Central @ Heritage
Rest Of The Way
After the first round it is very conceivable that any of the 16 remaining team could reach Boulder. Each team has that unique player/s or style of play that makes them dangerous.
In order for Cherry Creek to make it they will have to play up to their potential.
Arvada West will need Neff to carry the team but get help from lil brother Luke and others.
Aurora Central get by Hertiage the will need their top 4 players to play to their potential against Eaglecrest , not turn over the ball and control their emotions at a hyped up Nest.
George Washington has very talented and tested guards Kountz, Green and the Fugetts , add seniors like Hewitt to bang around in the paint and Patriots are a tough out. Legend could be the hottest team in the bracket coming off big wins in the final week of the season. Can the junior quartet of Garrick, Matticks, Porter and Small keep it together a Final 4 push.
Fossil Ridge had only one league loss and was the first team to seriously threaten Regis Jesuit early in the year and senior Ryan Quaid has been dominating the paint all year long. Add in the mix of young and veteran guards and the SaberCats are a tough out.
Eaglecrest plays at such a break neck speed because they can. The Ross brothers and Anderson are arguably the conversation for most athletic guards in the state and the are just as skilled as they are athletic. Now throw in workhorse Avdili and by the way E. Ross and Avdilli have done this before they were part of the 2013 Championship team.