Ball Fever: Individual performances take center stage in boys basketball

This week was dominated by elite individual performances! There were numerous 30-plus point scoring nights from some of our state’s top names like Colbey Ross and Mike Ranson, but a few new names popped up this week with outstanding performances as well.

We also took notice of a few squads who took on ultra competitive non-league schedules and it’s truly paying off now!

Let’s check out the action.

Week in review:

Monday, Jan. 25:

The place to be Monday night was at Eaglecrest high school and the 10 5A teams/coaches we caught taking in the action were a clear sign of the talent on the floor in East visiting the Raptors in a top-10 match-up! Stephen Priest was in the house and reported on Colbey Ross’ unbelievable shooting night that is causing so many to list him as Colorado’s top rising star.
Double-double alert as Devante Jones’ 23 points, 10 rebounds led Dakota Ridge to 75-58 win over Castle View.

Tuesday, Jan. 26:

We called Sierra our 4A Ball Fever “sleeper” early in the year and Coach Dunn, with his lead point guard CJ Jennings, are making us look smart at the right time! Dan Mohrmann was on site for their latest win.
What could make the Boulder/Fariview rivalry better? How about the chance to get it on at the Coors Event Center! Brie Thomas was all over it Tuesday.
Regis’ balance was on full display again Tuesday night when they put what we call a “40-piece” on Douglas County and Jack Eberhard was on the action shots.
Oh boy, almost not fair as Adams City had to face our state’s No. 1 squad and Rangeview had 12 players hit the scoring column winning by 80!
GW played a tough early schedule and it’s starting to pay off as the Patriots got 35 points from super soph Daylen Kountz in beating rival Thomas Jefferson on their court.
Legend has battled its way back into our top-10 and Danny Garrick’s 21 points led all scorers in the 73-50 win over Highlands Ranch.
Holy Family dropped out of our 4A top-10 and Windsor showed they deserve their No. 9 spot as they won this matchup by 8 behind Colton Mclean’s 18 points.
Greeley West received several votes to join the top-10 last week but ran into another hungry squad in Fossil Ridge who won the match 68-58 as Braxton Bertolette led with 26 points for the Sabercats.
Lincoln was in total control of this game but a fourth quarter meltdown led to a 21-7 Far Northeast advantage in the final stage and the Warriors completed the comeback to win by 1! Senior Sekou Cisse with 14 points, 9 rebounds in the win.
Wow … haven’t reported on this young man yet but a Ball Fever “dig” into the stats revealed a “monsta” double-double performance by Jackson Ehrlin of 29 points, 17 rebounds in Rampart’s win over Fountain-Fort Carson.
Keep an eye on this junior Trey Marble, who scored 24 points in Prairie View’s romp over Northglenn by 30!
Conifer playing good ball of late and getting top-10 votes, but lost a tough one in overtime to D’Evelyn. The Jaguars got 20 points from Josh Brinkerhoff. Jack Studer dropped 28 in the loss.
Pueblo West, sitting firmly at No. 5, got 29 points from scoring machine David Simental and blew away Pueblo Centennial.

Wednesday, Jan. 27:

Denver East Regis Jesuit boys basketball Ken Shaw Rudy Carey

The Fever Crew made our first visit of the season to the home of the Overland Trailblazers and were treated to a surprise effort from Grandview as a strong team effort, forcing perimeter shots from Overland, and a 19-point, 8-rebound effort from strong junior Gage Prim led to the 3-point upset win for the Wolves. A stifling 22-12 fourth quarter advantage for Grandview.
Another top-10 non-league contest for Denver East, this one against Regis Jesuit, and this one pitted two of our state’s most legendary coaches on the floor. Check out Stephen Priest’s report. And photos from Matt Matthewes from this big game
It was hard to even keep up with the Twitter action on this one and it sounds like an energetic packed house as Dan Mohrmann covered No. 10 Vista Ridge taking down rival Sand Creek.
No. 8 Chatfield ran it up 72-43 vs. Pomona to remain unbeaten in league play.
Cheyenne Mountain was hitting on all cylinders this night beating Air Academy 75-39 with Andrew Sung scoring 23.
Arvada West getting healthy and an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double from Dallas Walton, along with only allowing no more than 10 points in any quarter led to huge lead over Bear Creek.
No. 2 Lewis-Palmer pulled away from Palmer Ridge in the fourth quarter to win by 8. Joe Decoud with 16 points.
Player of the week-type action from Kyle Lucasiewicz as the lefty was “en fuego,” hitting 35 points, including 5 3-pointers for Arapahoe but visiting Cherokee Trail had four players hit double figure scoring with Ian Kelly’s 15 points, 8 rebounds in helping the Cougars get the tough win.

Thursday, Jan. 28:

No. 4 Valor’s Coach Pachner returned to a D’Evelyn gym he knows very well and the Eagles took care of business.
Ball Fever “dig” in the stats found that rare point/assist double-double as senior Tyler Converse had 21 points, 10 assist in Legacy’s 10-point win over Loveland.
Robi Powers scored 17 out west as Grand Junction remained unbeaten in league play with 14-point win over Grand Junction Central.
Doherty may be better than their No. 9 ranking may suggest and Dalven Brushier led four double-digit scorers with 18 in the 67-50 win over Pine Creek.
Yes, that was a 21-2 first quarter you heard as No. 1 Rangeview ran away from Thornton.
Austin Fritts scored 25 points for Green Mountain in a solid 8-point win over Conifer.
Sierra continuing to figure it out and CJ Jennings scored 24 in the 3-point win over Mesa Ridge.

Friday, Jan. 29:

The Fever Crew made it out to GW vs. Denver South Friday night and we saw a back and forth tilt that was tied at 41 going into the fourth quarter and then Jervae Green EXPLODED on the scene in a crazy run that unfolded in a 31-7 final stage in favor of the Patriots. Green finished with an amazing 34-point, 10-rebound double-double.
Regis continued a strong week in beating league rival Heritage.
We figured Lakewood, at home, would have the energy to keep pace with Chatfield, but not quite enough as the Chargers won 64-60.
D’Shawn Schwartz with another big night but not enough to take down No. 2 Lewis-Palmer.
No surprise to the Fever Crew that the tough, gritty Rock Canyon crew were able to earn a tough win at ThunderRidge and Brie Thomas has us covered.
Greeley West was picking up some top-10 votes in our poll but that might be short lived as Boulder cooled them off 70-63 with Luke Wilson scoring 23.
A 30-point first quarter got No. 2 Eaglecrest started and they never looked back beating Smoky Hill by 15 with Colbey Ross scoring 20.
Two of Pueblo’s strong scorers went head to head in Mike Ranson and David Simental. Ranson scored 32 but not enough to take down West who won by 21.
Overland wasn’t happy after loss to Grandview Wednesday and took it out on Mullen in a big way as FIFTEEN players hit the scoring column in the blowout.
Lachaun Duhart scored 26 points and Grandview was riding high after Wednesday’s win at Overland but Sitting Eagle Gym is a tough place and Arapahoe pulled out the 5-point win in overtime. Kyle Lucasiewicz struck again with 18 points.

Saturday, Jan. 30:

Thunderdome city match up No. 2 as Montbello (FNE) Warriors played Denver East. Signature win here for the Warriors as they take the Angels down 62-45. Tough week for East with losses to Eaglecrest, Regis, and Montbello may have the Angels falling out of our top-10 and the Warriors joining.
Sand Creek faced some tough opponents this week and that continued as Rampart’s Jackson Ehrlin’s 17 points led to a 10-point win.
Top-10 4A match up and Matt Mathewes has the Valor/Golden rematch photos. Here is Dan Mohrmann’s report on how Valor avenged the early season loss.
A rare slow start for Doherty put this one in jeopardy vs. rival Palmer but Dalven Brushier 21, and Brevin Brimble (13) put the squad on their backs and pulled out the two-point win.
4A defending champ Air Academy showed you better not look past them as they shocked previously undefeated No. 1 Pueblo South by two as Nate Renfrew led three players with 16 points.

A look ahead to this week’s top games:

Monday, Feb. 1:

Cherokee Trail at Brighton.
Hinkley at Pomona.
D’Evelyn at Evergreen.

Tuesday, Feb. 2:

Rock Canyon at Regis Jesuit is our Continental pick on this night, top-10 battle!
We are going Monarch at Legacy in the Front Range.
Thomas Jefferson at Denver East in early 5:30 p.m. DPL action. Angels need a win!
Doherty at Liberty.
Brighton gets their shot at No. 1 Rangeview.
Lincoln at Denver South.
Big one down south in Pueblo West at Pueblo South.

Wednesday, Feb. 3: