Ball Fever: Looking ahead to the coming week before the break
By Thomas Trotman
Photo: PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com
Welcome back, hoops fans! We are back for year 12 of the Ball Fever column! The “Fever Crew” will be following the CHSAA Now Top 10 in our big school 5A and 4A hoops closely along with looking for those outstanding individual performances and perhaps a “Special Report” or two throughout the season as well.
Unprecedented Covid times, but in true Colorado spirit our schools, administrators, coaches, and players have already created some early season memories and we expect a lot more to come. The early season non conference and tournament action has not let us down…let’s see what’s coming this week!
Tuesday, Dec. 14
Our coverage starts with a team to keep an eye on down south in Vista Ridge who has been getting after it early with a 7-1 record, only loss to 5A No. 3 squad Fossil Ridge, and they welcome Falcon, which is led by Mason Black’s 27 points per game! Fast start is earning Vista some top 10 votes.
Discovery Canyon (5-1) comes in this week as 4A No. 8 and will tangle with Elizabeth.
One of the seven new teams to the rankings is Douglas County at No. 10 in 5A. The Huskies won’t find it easy on this night as they travel south to Air Academy, which is 4-1 early in the season. Both teams averaging 76 points per game so this should be great action.
Two teams the Fever Crew consistently expects in the 5A top 10 are off to rough starts in Grandview and Rangeview, neither in Top 10, but this should provide for some “A-Town” pride and braggin’ rights!
Another thing you can count on in 4A Hoops is Lewis-Palmer having ballers and getting off to a fast start. They are 6-0 early season and Vista Peak is paying a visit. Cameron Lowe’s 20 points per game has the Rangers averaging 80 points as a team and unbeaten!
There’s that monster! The 5A defending champion ThunderRidge boys have started as expected with a 3-0 performance winning the competitive Tip-Off Classic Tournament in Week 2. The Grizzlies won an excellent overtime battle against Smoky Hill and in the finals, put together a victory over 5A ranked Fossil Ridge! ThunderRidge is back in action tonight (Game of the Night Candidate!) against a No. 9 Eaglecrest team that comes in at 3-1. Big 6-foot-9 Wake Forest bound senior Zach Keller is leading the way for the Grizz!
4A No. 9 Frederick will close out the Tuesday action in a real test against 5A Silver Creek. The Warriors have an opportunity to make a 4A statement!
Wednesday, Dec. 15
This night starts with a 6:30 p.m. matchup of defending 4A champion and No. 1-ranked Mead taking on a 5A Horizon squad that is playing solid ball at 5-2 so far. The Mavericks’ “double-double” machine James Shiers is averaging just that at 15 points, 11 rebounds so far this season.
Not many teams are off to a better start than 5A No. 2 Rock Canyon, which is unbeaten with six wins in the state and now the head out to “RepThe303” in the Arizona “Shoot the Rock AZ Tour.” In game one of three out-of-state games, the Jags face the Millenium Tigers to get the tourney started.
Thursday, Dec. 16
Mountain Vista just dropped out of the 5A Top 10 and they’ll be fighting to show they still belong as they start the Creek Tournament vs. Fairview.
No. 2 Lewis-Palmer looks to stay hot against a Sierra Stallions squad that’s still looking for its first win of the season. Won’t be easy to get it on this night!
D’Aundre Samuels is pacing the eighth-ranked Denver East Angels early in the season at 17 points per game and they have tourney play against the Legend Titans, who are 3-2 thus far.
A little “city vs. the suburbs” solid action is also on deck with Thomas Jefferson visiting 5A No. 4 Chaparral in Parker.
Broomfield is off to a strong 4-0 start but now No. 6 Centaurus is coming to town!
Our state’s No. 2 squad Rock Canyon will get a Phoenix squad, St. Mary’s, while out in Arizona.
Cherry Creek, 5A’s No. 7-ranked team, should have a couple football state champions back in the line up as they open Tourney play against Boulder.
There’s Coach Johannsen and crew! Fossil Ridge’s only loss was in the Tip Off Finals to Chaparral and the Sabercats hit their next tourney action as our No. 3 5A squad and see Cheyenne East (Wyoming).
4A No. 10 Longmont (4-2) will close out Thursday’s action vs. Evergreen.
Friday, Dec. 17
Always love neighborhood rivalries and Heritage (4-0) took down Fever’s beloved Arapahoe squad and now look for more braggin’ rights against neighbor Littleton!
Gets no better then a December trip to the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas and our Top 4A squad looks to show what we are made of right away vs. Las Vegas in a late 9:30 p.m. start to Vegas tourney action! Shiers and crew will have their hands full with Taviontae Jackson from Vegas who averages 28 points per game and leads squad in every statistical category…he’s not our CO kid but that’s “Stat-Stuffin” for real! Two unbeatens in their respective states.
No. 3 Fossil Ridge faces another Wyoming squad in tourney play: Campbell County.
#2 Rock Canyon get their final Arizona match. This time another Phoenix squad, Sunny Slope Vikings who are 7-1.
Eaglecrest, 5A #9 is making the trek to Vegas for the Tark Classic as well and will see Arbor View, NV to get things rolling.
Saturday, Dec. 18
Cherokee Trail getting some early CA tourney action and will face Capital Christian Cougars out of Sacramento.
Pueblo South, at 6-0, is our 4A No. 3 squad and take on Widefield 1 p.m.!
Class 5A No. 3 Fossil Ridge closes out WY tourney play vs. Central. Let’s go Sabercats!
Lewis Palmer is closing out the coverage for us this week with the final in-state game, 7pm against Lutheran (Parker).
The Fever Crew will keep an eye on all the final tournament action of the week and the twitter handle will be active as well!
Sheesh, folks! A ton of action in and out of state in what is certain to be an exciting Week 3 of Colorado Hoops! Safe travels to all squads who are on the road and we know our state will be well represented. Get out there and see some of our top 5A/4A action or you neighborhood favorite! Either way…just get out and support if you can; always 72 & Sunny IN THE GYM! #BallFever
