Ball Fever: Tourney play heats up early part of boys basketball season

An outstanding Week 1 as those familiar names of Colbey Ross, D’Shawn Schwartz, Kyle Lucasiewicz and Jaizec Lottie stood out for their squads and didn’t disappoint.

Team efforts from Overland and Denver East proved they are not to be counted out as new, young rosters take over this season. Speaking of youth, how about the first week for Smoky Hill, which will be out of state this week taking on some perennial national powers!

Tournament play and early season non-league play continues just as strong this week. Time to take a look at Monday through Wednesday in our midweek report!

Monday, Dec. 5:

Tournament play started with five Eagles scoring in double figures as Broomfield spanked a rebuilding Aurora Central 75-49 behind senior Spencer Wolff’s 15 points.
Not to be outdone, No. 3 Denver East also had five players score in double figures at the Fairview tournament as they ran away from Palmer 69-41. The Angels have the complete package with size of Alex May and Asane Diouff along side perimeter play of young Kwane Marble and senior leader Joe Abiakim who scored 12.
Denver South, now 3-1, has a nice looking junior in Courtney Dean who scored 18 points in an exciting over time win vs. Sierra. The Rebels outscored the Stallions by 10 in the extra stage!
Not many players in the state starting as hot as the Sabercats’ Braxton Bertolette, who again scored 30 but it wasn’t enough as Fossil Ridge went down to a top-10 4A squad in Golden 73-55. Quite a statement by the Demons! Check out Matt Mathewes’ shots here.
Sophomore Mark Dolan came to play scoring 18 points as Fairview opened up its Festival tournament play with a 65-49 win over Arvada West.
Colton Peterson pacing the Tigers to a win as Lakewood downed Castle View down South 74-55.

Tuesday, Dec. 6:

The Fever Crew got out to Montbello on this cold night as 3A Manual took the challenge of traveling to FNE (Montbello) 5A Warriors. One Thunderbolt, Jaedon Bowles, came to play scoring 42 points on 17-27 shooting but the Warriors slashing Sindou Cisse (18 points) and “do it all” Aaris Bonds (20 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists) flexed 5A muscle in the 88-71 win for Montbello.
How about No. 1 visiting No. 2 early in the season? Eaglecrest traveled to Rock Canyon and suffered their first loss as Sam Masten scored 28 points in what will lead to an early shake up in our rankings! John Priest has your outstanding video coverage!
Some guys simply lead by example and our Fever Crew had the pleasure of spending a big chuck of spring/summer 2016 with this young man Matt Johnson Jr. who broke the new Rangeview gym in with a 31 point, 4 assist, 2 rebound effort as the Raiders took down Dakota Ridge. With a 4.3 GPA Johnson has schools like Cornell taking a look!
There’s that duo again of Hunter Maldonado and Noah Beatty down south scoring 25 and 18 for Vista Ridge but Rampart took home bragging rights in this one with a last second 1-point victory as Dawson Carper poured in 18.
Have your track shoes ready when facing Chatfield! They “charged” past Monarch this time by almost 30!
Greeley West got the win at Wheatridge but our Dennis Pleuss covered Coach Dowd’s off the court journey that means much more!
Young soph Caleb Tamminga came to play for Legend but not enough as a senior led Grandview team won 63-51.
No. 6 George Washington continues to impress early with easy win 74-50 over Poudre.
Top-10 4A match up won by 3, 60-57 with Mead taking down D’Evelyn!
Longmont is earning votes in our 4A poll and junior Luke Johnson is doing his part scoring 29 points in the route of Discovery Canyon.
Holy Family got 18 from senior Michael Zeman as our 4A No. 5 ran away from Niwot by 30!
Air Academy looking to get back on track this week and junior Brock Brendrick scored 16 helping the Kadets to a 72-50 win over Mitchell. Quindell Bryant led all scorers with 21 in the loss.

Wednesday, Dec. 7

CJ Jennings starting to get Sierra on track as they pull the tight tourney victory 46-44 over Arvada West.
Statement by Cherry Creek as they start the Thunderridge tournament with a 70-39 thumping of Lincoln!
Sweet 4A vs. 5A action as No. 2 Valor took on No. 8 in 5A Doherty where Jalen Sanders scored 18 points but not enough as the Spartans used a 25-9 third quarter run to put this away!
Round 1 of this 4A monster match goes to Golden as the Demons handled Longmont 49-39 in a low scoring affair.
Broomfield always comes to fight but this night they faced 5A force Denver East at the Fairview Festival tourney and battled but came up short 65-54.
ThunderRidge senior Corey Seng wasn’t messing around dropping 28 points in tourney play as the Grizz came out strong with a 30+ win over Rocky Mountain in tourney play.
Coach Fletcher and staff are truly grassroots building a strong neighborhood program at Denver South and earned a huge tourney win tonight at Fairview 67-50!

We had a frigid start to the week hoops fans but there are some tournament titles to be had over the next three days and Ball Fever will be hot on the trail!

As we say, 72 and sunny in the gym … get out and enjoy!