Overland vs ThunderRidge 5A State Championship Preview

The season is ending as it should. With the two best teams and big men in the state squaring off for the championship. Overland hasn’t lost a game since early January. ThunderRidge on the other hand was the first team to beat Regis Jesuit who hadn’t been beaten in its 19 previous games.

While everyone is pointing to the match up between DeRon Davis and Zach Pirog the game will be decide by the guards.

ThunderRidge wins the game if the guards can keep Overland out of transition and make it tough on Overland to get the ball to Davis.  The Grizzlies junior forwards of Austin Mueller and Clay Verk must be a force rebounding. Pirog will have his hands full with Davis some one will need to keep Swan and King Grant Perry off the boards. ThunderRidge will need to be efficient when taking their three pointers not allowing long rebounds to turn into fast breaks for Overland. Guards can not turn it over.

Overland wins if they drive ThunderRidge shooters off the three point line. Overland played great team defense last night against East and will need to have the same kind of effort. ThunderRidge guards do not like being guarded full court. They been better latel handling the pressure but they are still susceptible to it. The Trailblazers will also need to feed Davis early and often. Davis (and Pirog for that matter)  will need to play smart and not allow the refs to become part of the game. Overlands guards did a good job last night not falling in love with the three pointer. They will need that same kind of discipline tonight.