'Ranch
then the rest? CET crew discusses the Class 5A girls basketball
playoffs. (02/23/10)
The Arbiter:
Ms.
Mauro. Gentlemen. Here we are again. Please share your enthusiasm and
insight regarding this season's Class 5A girls basketball tournament. At
first glance at the brackets, is there anything that excites you?
Surprises you? Confuses you?
Mary Kay
Mauro: Excites? The fact there seems to be a little more parity in
the 5A ranks this year. As dominant as the Continental League is and has
been for over a decade, there are some teams from the Front Range,
Southwestern (on the Western Slope) and Colorado Springs who are chomping
at the bit to take their shot at the best of the Continental.
Surprises? I would say Fountain-Ft. Carson. Here's a team
that finished 19-4 overall, 13-3 in league, second behind Air
Academy in the solid C.S. Metro League. The Trojans beat a good Ralston
Valley team early in the season, took two from Palmer (18-5) and split
with Air Academy (21-2). And, the Trojans are undefeated in February with
their last loss on Jan. 30 to Sand Creek. So, they definitely have some
momentum going into the playoffs.
Confusing? I don't know if anything is confusing, however, I do
wonder if teams with six or seven total wins should be seeded. It
reminds me of college football where six victories almost
guarantee a bowl game.
Brian
Roth: There is no question the premier league in 5A
girls was the Continental league. The league boast two #1
seeds, four of the top eight seed teams and six of the top
12 seeds. That being said, I was surprised that Chaparral was able to
secure a #1 seed. I thought perhaps G.J. Central or Denver East might
be able to sneak into one of the top spots ahead of a Wolverine team that
went 8-3 in conference play-- even if it was the Continental. With
all that being said, give a ton of credit to Chaparral for playing without
Colorado State recruit, Sam Martin, who has missed the
entire season with a knee injury. To go 17-6 without arguably the
best big the state? That is
impressive.
Cory
Lopez: I love the fact that Front Range powers,
Monarch and Legacy, could, if they run the table to the Final Four, and
they should, meet before either has to clash with Highlands
Ranch.
The Arbiter:
Excluding the one that includes Highlands Ranch, which region
might be the most intriguing or exciting to watch
develop?
Lopez: The Carol
Callan Region is loaded! It really is a pick em' region. Any one of the
top four seeds could advance. Yes I said it, ALL FOUR! Central High in
Grand Junction beat Wilch Region 2 seed, Denver East, Garms Region 3 seed,
Air Academy, and its own regional 3 seed, Heritage. All three of the
Warriors' wins were on a neutral floor at the Heritage Tourney.
Mauro: I
think it's a tough call between the Carol Callan and Kaye Garms regions.
The top four teams in each region are tournament-tested squads and there
are at least a couple other teams that will try to challenge the top seeds
including: Poudre and Pine Creek in the Carol Callan region; and,
Fairview and Ralston Valley in the Kaye Garms region.
Roth: I am curious
about the Alice Barron region. Legacy gets the number one seed, but
watch out for #3 Fountain-Ft. Carson. They are led by one of the most
dynamic players in the state in D'Shara Strange. She
scored 21 in a win over Air Academy last week -- a game that probably
knocked the Kadets out of a #2 seed. She is capable of taking over a
game and that makes the Trojans dangerous. And will ThunderRidge
break out of their late season slump? Our preseason #1 lost to
Highlands Ranch and Regis down the stretch and it cost the Grizzles a
number 1 seed. But watch out, Bill Bradley still has
one of the most talented teams in the state led by point
guard, Carley Needles.
The
Arbiter: Is there any chance at all
that a team not seeded in the Top 8 can advance to the Final 4?
Mauro:
If you mean
is there other than the top four seeds from each region that could advance
to the Top 8 and eventually the Final 4, then I think it will be a
stretch. The four highest seeds in each region are strong. I will say I
think Poudre has an outside chance to break into the Top 8; not the Final
4.
Roth: No. For whatever reason, making a
deep run as an underdog is much harder in girls basketball than it is in
boys basketball. Do not ask me why. It just is. In fact, I
think it will be tough for any team outside a top three seed to get to
Boulder.
Lopez: I think the
Callan Region is the only one that could send someone other than the top
seed.
The
Arbiter: And the question you may wish
to... but I will not allow you to avoid? What team has the best chance to
shock Colorado by stopping Highlands Ranch
from earning another state championship? How and why?
Mauro: If
Denver East doesn't do it as the #2 seed in the same region as 'Ranch,
then I think Monarch or Legacy has a legitimate chance to send Highlands
Ranch home for a second year in a row without the gold ball. Both
Front Range teams play at a great pace,
have solid guard play, have go-to players in the paint and keep you honest
from three-point territory. The trick is going to be who can play great
defense, handle pressure, and minimize mistakes that Highlands Ranch is so
good in forcing teams into by hurting themselves.
Lopez:
It only takes one bad game. Having said that, the Falcons won't really
need their "A" game until they get to Boulder. Any team that plays
Highlands Ranch at the Events Center will need an "A+" effort and a little
extra credit to get the title this year.
Roth: I
like Monarch. They have the experience of the state
champioinship game run of last season. They are balanced in scoring
with three bonafide scorers in Eliza
Normen, Alex Evans and Alexus
Johnson. And they have one of the top coaches in the state
in Gail Hook. Oh yeah, and they have won 13 straight
after a brutal early
schedule.
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