Ball Fever: League Play Heating Up!
By Thomas Trotman
Welcome back hoop, fans! Two weeks ago we talked about the out-of-state and non-league play winding down. Now? We’re in the mix of heated league play and rivals that know each other intimately! We’ve had some shake up in our 6A Top 10 rankings and a surprise 5A squad that remains unbeaten … Let’s dig in:
Tuesday 2/3
We wanted “intimate” coverage and it gets no more familiar than two teams that just played Jan. 15 where 6A #5 Rangeview beat the Ravens by 9 points. This time around Denver South will host the Raiders and hope to slow down Archie Weatherspoon IV’s 20 points per game and “super soph” Marceles Duncan, who leads Rangeview in EVERY other statistical category: “stat-stuffin!”
No one covers Jeffco hoops like our Ball Fever buddy Dennis Pleuss and he covered our “and NEW!” 16-0 unbeaten Arvada West squad who took down Ralston Valley (a previous #1) on Saturday and A-West has another tough opponent in Columbine tonight…
Speaking of the Mustangs, Ralston Valley comes in as the #3 in 6A after the tight loss to A-West and will face Bear Creek in an attempt to bounce back after its first loss.
Our intro mentioned an unbeaten 5A team and that’s #3 Regis Groff out northeast who look roll past Denver North averaging a WHOPPING 83 points per game, led by James Murdock’s 23 points per game.
And we can’t even touch 5A hoops without giving props to #1 Palisade and Hunter Howard’s 13 points, 7 rebounds per game who have a tough task out west vs. Grand Junction and Grant Lewis who has his squad sitting at 14-3!
Goerge Washington has slipped a bit as of late and you can always throw rankings out the window when it’s the #8 Patriots tangling with Northfield in league action!
***Other Tuesday “Ball Fever Fav’s: Alright now, Denver West! The Cowboys are 15-0 on the season, folks! … Denver East and Vista Peak rekindle the young rivalry and points will get piled up … Last one that caught the Fever Crew’s eye on this night is 13-3 Silver Creek racing over at Broomfield.
Wednesday 2/4
6A #2 Chaparral handed the Top spot over to unbeaten Arvada West this week but the Wolverines have a chance to improve their standing with a rare February non-league bout vs. a solid Horizon squad who’s sporting a 14-3 record of its own. “Lefty” Luke Howery has jumped to leading Chap in 4 statistical categories: “Stat-Stuffin”
Cheyenne Mountain, 14-3, is on the rise in 5A landing at #6 this week but they will be trying to avenge a loss earlier this season to “stat-stuffin” Kade Speckman and Lutheran High. Speckman averaging a 15-point, 10-rebound “double-double.”
Eaglecrest has a chance to ruin #9 Cherokee Trail’s run and tie them at 3-2 in league play IF they can secure the win in front of their home crowd mid-week!
Another strong Centennial squad has jumped into the 6A Top 10 mix with Grandview rising to #7 this week. Noah Sevy is leading the Wolves with 14 points and 5 rebounds but the Wolves head into Overland which is never an easy spot to get a road “dubb!”
The Jags are 2-0 on the week and up to 14-3 overall. Now at #4 in 6A Rock Canyon looks to keep rolling over Continental foe Douglas County. Closing out mid-week coverage is big man Oliver Junker’s 14 points and 9 rebounds per outing for #4 Rock Canyon who draws Legend in league action.
***Other Wednesday “Ball Fever Fav’s: Golden hasn’t cracked the Top 10, yet, but looking good at 14-4 visiting D’Evelyn.
Thursday 2/5
Riding Keegan Balisteri’s 18 points per game, our new top dog in the state #1 Arvada West looks to stay unbeaten averaging 70 points per game and this Thursday draws Valor Christian.
Two wins in the past week has lifted Eagle Valley to 13-3 joining the 5A Top 10 for the first time and this day is their first league bout with Glenwood Springs.
Caiden Braketa may get some time off in this one and not reach his 18 point average as #3 Ralston Valley faces 1-win Lakewood.
Friday 2/6
Big dog 6A #2 Chaparral gets us started as the duo of Howery and Williams looks to keep the Wolves unbeaten in league play Heritage.
#7 Grandview returns home Friday night and should keep momentum rolling vs. a Smoky Hill squad with only 2 wins on the season.
We have covered Caleb Jensen’s 14 points and Cherokee Trail’s recent rise. If the Cougars want to keep momentum going they have to get by always #CentennialTough Overland to do it!
Unbeaten and upstart Regis Groff has a tough league test on the road at Thomas Jefferson.
Our first 6A ***Top 10 Alert*** comes in the fashion of #4 Rock Canyon and #6 Mountain Vista in a critical Continental league match.
Hey Patriots! This one better be about pride. #3 Rangeview is our Ball Fever pick to be the last 6A squad standing when it’s all said and done. They FULLY looked the part in a 87-51 drubbing of George Washington earlier in the season and we expect GW to have a better effort in this ***Top 10 Alert*** match up!
Speaking of revenge, #7 in 5A Windsor should have something to prove as well in a rematch up north with Fossil Ridge, who beat them by 30-plus just last month.
Saturday 2/7
The last time #1 Arvada West laced em up vs. Lakewood they scored 92 points! Look for the Wildcats to end this week on a high note as well.
Didn’t think part of the Ball Fever theme would be teams with something to prove this week but we have another in Chatfield, who suffered a 27-point loss to Ralston Valley earlier in the season. Chargers look for a better effort here!
***Other Saturday “Ball Fever Fav’s: Another one of those Coach Valdez/Coach Carey classics where you can throw the records out the window in Denver South vs Denver East!
OK, Hoops fans! More than half the season is completed and our VERY familiar league rivalries are under way…Get out and support our neighborhood teams. These awesome athletes deserve our love and support! The Ball Fever Crew will be following along all week! Catch us on twitter: @BallFever_CO_Tr
Always 72 & Sunny in the Gym!!!
