Basketball Colorado 5A Top10 – Week 3
12/11/2016
Week 2 was packed with action in and out of state for the 5A Top10. Last week’s #1 Eaglecrest suffered their first loss as did Smoky Hill (out of state), Doherty, and Lakewood. Week #3 promises to be just as eventful with the game of the week without question is Smoky Hill vs. George Washington. Meanwhile, five of the Top10 teams and at least two other Colorado teams are heading prestigious Tark Classic in Las Vegas this weekend. Some of Colorado’s best will get to take on some of the best high school teams in the West.
10. Lakewood (3-1) /Chatfield
The Tigers committed 21 turnovers in their one point loss to #8 Cherokee Trail. If they can eliminate those, they will beat a lot of teams. They will get their chance against #5 ThunderRidge on Tuesday.
Chatfield plays FNE (Montbello) and Fossil Ridge this week. If the Chargers can pull off these two wins, they will have solidified their Top10 ranking.
9. Doherty (3-1)
The Spartans dropped five spots in the rankings after the loss to ThunderRidge. Dakota Ridge, Mountian Vista, and Legend are on the docket for the Spartans this week.
8. Cherokee Trail (4-0)
Cherokee Trail after a thrilling one-point win over Lakewood takes on Legend and Regis this week. Senior guard Jaizec Lottie is playing lights out at the moment.
7. Grandview (4-0)
The Wolves had a close one with Mountain Vista that went to OT on Saturday. The Wolves play Tuesday against a tall Rampart team that just lost a close one to FNE (Montbello). Then the Wolves will try their luck in Las Vegas in the Tark Classic.
6.ThunderRidge (4-0)
When a Top10 team knocks off another Top10 team, it shouldn’t be considered a big upset nor even a mild one with the parity in 5A this year. That being said when the Grizzlies defeated Doherty on Saturday, they let it be known that they will need to be taken seriously as a Top10 team this season. #10 Lakewood comes to the Den on Tuesday for what should be an excellent game. Then ThunderRidge takes off for Las Vegas and the Tark Classic.
5. Eaglecrest (2-1)
Some will argue the former #1 team shouldn’t have fallen so far in the rankings. Perhaps. But they can rise just as quickly if they can get past Boulder and then have a great showing in Las Vegas at the Tark Classic.
4. Smoky Hill (4-1)
Smoky Hill defeated the #1 team in Utah and beat a very nice Virgina team at the Free Tax USA Shootout and was one shot away from being undefeated. Now the Buffaloes are ready to stampede into the George Washington gym and send a message to the state. The rest of the week will be a test of Smoky Hill’s focus when they take on Rangeview.
3. Rock Canyon (7-1)
It’s hard to believe that Rock Canyon has played eight games this season. Rock Canyon beat then #1 Eaglecrest and then the Jaguars had a very successful trip to Texas for the San Antonio Independent School District Tournament. Rock Canyon went undefeated and came away with a championship. Rock Canyon has Overland and Dakota Ridge this week to wrap up their play into 2016.
2. Denver East (7-0)
Denver East is undefeated so far and it’s scary to think that they are still playing without their two best players. The Angels will have their hands full with their first game of the Tark Classic against host Bishop Gorman. The Gales have been a powerhouse in Nevada and on the national stage for years. They have BYU commit Christian Popoola Jr. and Charles O’Bannon Jr. currently ranked as the 35th player in the nation by ESPN.
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George Washington (5-0)
The Patriots are more than ready for the Buffaloes on Tuesday night and would like nothing more than to prove that they are currently the best team in the state. It doesn’t get any easier for the Patriots as they head to the Tark Classic to face Redondo Union High School in the first round.
