Ball Fever: Week 1 lives up to its "action-packed" billing - Colorado High School Activities Association

Week 1 of Class 5A/4A hoops was called “action-packed” with the early non-conference matchups and opening tournament action. Fans were not disappointed.

Impressive individual performances are already stacking up and exciting last-second finishes added to the fun.

Ball Fever will take a look at some of the big matches which already have great coverage but we’ll also “dig” for those performances that may not have received as much attention but are deserving as part of our ever improving Colorado hoops scene.

Lets get started!

Week in review

Lewis-Palmer Pueblo Central boys basketball

Tuesday, Dec. 1:

Brock Laue was the CHSAANow man on the scene at the huge opening-night George Washington top-5 match up at Overland.
The Fever Crew was at No. 2 Legend visiting No. 7 Denver East in another top-10 season-opening match up. Legend’s senior led squad never let the team get too high or low and stuck around until the end where they veteran players were a big part of closing out this comeback. Strong shooting on the perimeter kept them in this one throughout. East was at its best when attacking the hoop and hitting the boards offensively. Jack Buckmelter’s 29 points and leadership throughout proved he’s primed to take the reins for East. Check out Andre Lyseight’s full coverage here.
Arvada West has patiently awaited the return of big man Dallas Walton, who has returned from two knee surgeries and did not disappoint with an 18-point, 18-rebound double-double in the win over young and talented Smoky Hill.
Our 4A top-10 matchup of the night pitted Lewis-Palmer vs. Pueblo Central and Dan Mohrmann’s all over it.
Eaglecrest came out swinging with a 26-point win over up and coming Rock Canyon. The hoops community is fully aware of NCAA Division I-bound Colbey Ross, who scored 20 on the night, but watch out for sophomore Victor Garnes, who scored 18 and was perfect from the field.
Sand Creek with top player D’Shawn Schwartz’s 22-point, 15-rebound double-double, alongside Jordan Phillips’ 24 points, elevated Sand Creek over Palmer in a Colorado Springs rivalry game.
Ball Fever “Dig”: Sawyer Kirbo scores 33 points for Horizon in rout over Northglenn.
Backcourt combo Ladarious Thomas and Elijah Coleman combine for 49 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists in Aurora Central’s Denver vs. Aurora battle of A. Central and Thomas Jefferson.
Oh yes, we have our first Ball Fever stat-stuffer of the season in up-and-coming Colorado Springs beast at Widefield Tre Pierre: 25 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists, 6 steals, 7 blocks. HELLO! Widefield 61-47 over Coronado.

Wednesday, Dec. 2:

One of our state’s top shooters caught fire for Fossil Ridge as they put the score keeper to work beating Thornton 117-71 and Braxton Berolette had 33 points shooting 50 percent from 3-point land.
Our preseason No. 3 ThunderRidge came out the gate swinging with five players in double digit scoring, led by Stetson commit Clay Verk’s 17 points in the 84-41 thrashing of Denver South.
Junior Quinzel Harding continues the family tradition as he scored 18 points in Harrison’s win over Manual 72-66.
Good looking sophomore Daylen Kountz scored 25 points for George Washington but it wasn’t enough as a balanced Chatfield team who will surprise folks this year won 88-83.
Big man Frank Ryder’s 20 points helped Fairview to a 47-18 second half advantage leading to a 20-point win over Chaparral. Dominic Coleman with 22 points, 8 rebounds in the loss.
The Fever Crew made it out to the ThunderRidge tourney on this night and saw a great back and forth between to of our top 2017guards in Cherokee Trail’s Jaizec Lotie and Doherty’s Brevan Brimble who knocked down this “walk off” game winner:

Thursday, Dec. 3:

Ball Fever “dig” for stats turned up junior Lechaun Duhart’s 33-point performance for Grandview vs. Castle View this night. The Wolves will be looking for leadership with their young squad and Duhart may be that guy! Senior Jake Ellis led Castle View with 21.
Love the Centennial vs. Continental matchups and Arapahoe outlasted Mountain Vista 74-70 behind senior James Walsh’s 20 points, who led three Warriors in double digit scoring. Solid early win for the Warriors!
Preseason top-10 4A match up as Pueblo South took down Lewis-Palmer 63-59.
Cherry Creek on the road in Las Vegas go down by four 43-39 to Durango, Nevada.
The Fever Crew got out to a 5A/4A tilt that ended up a lot more lopsided than we thought as Thomas Jefferson visited preseason 5A No. 4 Rangeview. The Raiders were literally flying all over the court! Coach Palmer once again has a perimeter-oriented group that is lengthy and excels in transition. The Raiders were led this night by senior Tyrei Randall, who had numerous athletic dunks leading to a game high 16 points. FRESHMAN ALERT for TJ: the Spartans have a strong-point guard freshman in Jodaun Dotson who played hard until the end of the blowout and finished with 7 points, 3 steals in the 70-40 loss.
Douglas County quietly making some Week 1 noise with a 10-point win over HInkley led by Solomon Stark’s 27 points and CJ Jetta’s 19.
Under new leadership for the first time in a while the Lincoln Lancers cruised to a first victory on the road in Las Vegas behind Umar Jalloh’s 17 points in 30-point win over Basic, Nevada.
Our preview called CJ Jennings perhaps the best player no one knows about and his 16 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals didn’t let us down in the Stallions’ win over Greeley Central.
Preseason 3A No. 1 Colorado Springs Christian took down 4A Mesa Ridge in a tight 60-59 win.
Impressive win for Vista Peak as they defeated No. 4 Pueblo Central, who got the terrible news they lost D-I commit Kobi Betts to a knee injury for the season. Vista Peak had four players score double figures with Tre Early and Dylan Holt both scoring 14. Pueblo Central star Michael Ranson will now carry a heavy load, and scored 35 in this one. Look for him to be the state’s leading scorer … maybe by far!

(Valor Christian Air Academy boys basketball

Friday, Dec. 4:

That No. 2 ThunderRidge balance was on full display this night as Kaison Hammonds led five Grizzlies in double figures in a 25-point win over Doherty that we expected to be a lot closer.
Watch out for preseason No. 10 Pueblo South, folks, who took down their second top-10 opponent in one week with 61-58 win over Golden.
Elijah Coleman and Ladarius Thomas both score over 20 points but it wasn’t enough to take down Grand Junction out west.
Dylan McCaffrey has yet to join the Valor Eagles hoops squad while he was quarterbacking his way to a 5A football title and the way Valor took down defending champ Air Academy without him might place them as a favorite for a 4A basketball title. Read a full recap here.
Our Ball Fever 5A “sleeper” was the FNE Warriors and they aren’t quite full strength with big man Relando Rogers out with knee injury but senior guard Sekou Cisse is carrying the weight scoring 32 points in the rout of Thornton.
A lil Ball Fever “dig” into the stats caught Tre Pierre’s double-double of 23 points, 14 rebounds vs. Woodland Park.
Standout-point guard Colbey Ross struck again with 26 points in Eaglecrest’s 16-point win over Palmer.
Mead is playing some good early ball but came up 6 points short vs. No. 1 Longmont and Justinian Jessup’s 23 point, 10-rebound double-double.

Saturday, Dec. 5:

Coach Earl Boykins has Douglas County sitting at 3-0 after Solomon Stark scores 17 in the 81-64 win over Pomona.
We mentioned previously that this Chatfield squad is veteran led and tough. They gave ThunderRidge all they could ask for in the tournament championship game the Grizzlies won 62-55. Clay Verk led T’Ridge again with 18.
Back in middle school days the hoops community called him “Superman” and now David Thornton is rolling as a senior at Cherokee Trail with a “monster” 36-point, 16-rebound double-double in the Cougars 3-point win over GW.
Regis with impressive 30-point win over Columbine. Find photos from the game here.
Lincoln, on the road in Vegas, suffered a 23-point loss to Trinity International as the road trip got a lot tougher.
Elijah Coleman broke out with 27 points as Aurora Central played their most complete game so far.
Two DPL 4A teams Thomas Jefferson and Denver South were looking for wins and got them Saturday after a tough first week. The Rebels win at Chap in tourney play while the Spartans took down Littleton.
Emotional week for the Denver East Angels but what a way to finish on the court with a 60-55 tournament title win over Fossil Ridge with senior Daytone Jennings setting the TONE with 23-point, 12-rebound double-double. Braxton Bertolette again scorching 32 points for the Sabercats in the loss.

Look ahead to next week’s top games

Monday, Dec. 7:

Mullen at Mountain Range.
George Washington travels to Boulder.
Monarch at Aurora Central slates two hot teams.
Denver South tries to hold momentum vs. Greeley Central.
Pueblo Central at Falcon down south.
Broomfield goes south to visit Sierra.
Fairview at Niwot.

Tuesday, Dec. 8:

ThunderRidge at Smoky Hill in battle of veteran play vs. young talent.
Dakota Ridge will test No. 2 Legend.
Rangeview at Poudre.
Ralston Valley hosts FNE Warriors (Montbello) in tourney play.
Out west Uintah at a solid Grand Junction squad.
Douglas County looks to stay unbeaten at Palmer.
No. 1 Overland visits Lakewood.
Weld Central at No. 1 Longmont.

Wednesday, Dec. 9:

Fossil Ridge travels south to Highlands Ranch.
Cherokee Trail and Denver East will get up and down the court!
Chaparral at Chatfield.

Thursday, Dec. 10:

Grand Junction and Legend looks like a good one!
Lewis-Palmer and Fossil Ridge in solid 5A/4A battle.
Regis begins its travels vs. Mater Dei.
Frederick at No. 1 Longmont.

Friday, Dec. 11:

Boulder at Cherokee Trail.
Denver East renews their fun yearly battle with Cherry Creek.
Chaparral heads into No. 1 Overland.
Lincoln at Chatfield will be good!
Sand Creek at Mitchell.

Saturday, Dec. 12:

Highlands Ranch at Cherokee Trail.
Bragging rights on the line in Doherty and Sand Creek!

If Week 1 was any indication we are once again in store for an action-packed season with our perennial favorites looking strong but some nice surprises eager to prove we shouldn’t have overlooked them!

Looking forward to the ride …