Boys 4A Semi-final Preview
By Matt Langley
www.BasketballColorado.com
3/12/2015
Game 1 4:00 at the Coors Events Center – CU Boulder
Air Academy vs Lewis Palmer
It was February 18th when these PPAC rivals squared off last. The senior laden Air Academy Kadets held the Lewis-Palmer Rangers to just 11 points in the first half and went on to win by 21 points. That win by the Kadets revenge an earlier eight point loss to the Rangers back in January.
Junior Charlie Hovasse has been a welcome addition to the Rangers since coming back from a devastating injury in the fall. Hovasse has added another dimension to the Rangers, he and fellow junior Jonathan Scott feed off each other well.
David Louthan might be the best player from one of the top teams in the Springs regardless of class and you haven’t heard that much about him. The 6’3 Louthan leads Air Academy in most statistical categories but has plenty of help from his supporting cast. Seniors James Sims and Paul Ambuul are able scorers. Oh and a couple of these Kadets have already won a state soccer championship this year.
The Rangers win this game if they don’t start slow. Lewis-Palmer simply can not have another 11 point first half and expect to win.
Air Academy wins this game if the Kadets can make their 3 point shots and they drive Lewis-Plamer from the 3 point line as well.
Game 2 5:30 at the Coors Events Center – CU Boulder
Sierra vs Longmont
Sierra started the season off most prognosticators radars and despite a 20-3 record the Stallions barely cracked the top 10 by the end of the season. Longmont began in the top 10 and quickly rose to the number one rankings and stayed their the rest of the season. Both teams easily won their respective conferences. Sierra face stiffer competition in the rounds leading up to Boulder but it took Longmont to the finals seconds to defeat Valor in the Great 8.
Sierra wins this game if the Stallions can speed up the Trojans past their comfort zone. Sierra has very good team that plays extremely well together led in scoring by Tevion Thompson. The Stallions will need to advantage of their quickness and figure out away to keep the bigger Longmont Trojans off the boards.
Longmont wins this game if the Trojans can rebound and defend. The Trojans have to keep the Stallions in front of them and simply force Sierra into tough contested shots. Longmont should be able to score behind talented junior Justinian Jessup. Jessup is adept at sharing the ball but can take over to score as well. Longmont must take advantage of the size difference and own the boards behind junior Kevin Mitchell.
