Ball Fever: 2022-23 season off to an exciting start

Welcome back, hoops fans! We are back for year 13 of the Ball Fever column! The “Fever Crew” will be following the CHSAANow Top 10 in our big school 5A and 6A hoops closely along with looking for those outstanding individual performances and perhaps a “Special Report” or two throughout the season as well. 

Tuesday 12/13
 

It only seems right that this season’s coverage begins with new Class 6A #3 Valor Christian, who will be hosting Smoky Hill to start off Week 3 of the season! Valor is fresh off its 70-68 Tip Off Classic title game win over former No. 1 Fossil Ridge last Saturday. The Eagles are paced by “stat-stuffin” sophomore Cole Sherer who early on leads his team in every statistical category, including scoring at 18 points per game. 

Not to be outdone, No. 4 Smoky Hill comes in undefeated as well for this early-season battle of top-five squads. Smoky is led by senior Rickey Mitchell who is averaging 30 points per game early this season and can get it done at all three levels on the floor, efficient scorer. Mitchell is tasked with leading a talented and young squad with two freshman studs who will be heard from for years in Kai McGrew and Carter Basquez. McGrew off to a tremendous start for a 6-foot-8 freshman averaging a 15 point, 10 rebound double-double so far and 6-foot-5 freshman Basquez averaging nine points per game in their first couple outings. What a way to start week 3!

No. 6 Rock Canyon comes into Week 3 at 3-1 and that sole loss was a tight 52-51 game against Mountain Vista, who was voted as our new No. 1 in 6A this week. The Jags will host Cherry Creek (1-3) on this night. Senior Gavin Hershberger is leading Rock Canyon with 15 points and five assists per outing in a tough first four games of the season.

Our Coaches Poll also brought a new No. 1 team in 5A this week with Frederick being very active early, sitting at 5-0 led by Luke Justice’s 20 points per game. Frederick will try to keep up the Golden Eagles’ 75 points per game.

Another active squad early on, Vista Peak, comes in at 5-1 and ranked No. 7 in 5A. The Bison will travel to Centaurus (3-3) tonight. Vista Peak’s sole loss came to 6A Monarch in Week 2. 

Air Academy, ranked No. 5 in 5A, will take on the non-conference 6A challenge as they travel to Douglas County. Air Academy’s two losses came to solid 6A opponents in Valor and Arapahoe. No shame in that, take on the early season challenge!

Denver East started off slow with two losses in tournament play but has now ran off five wins in a row as Coach Carey closes in on another major Colorado coaching record. The Angels are back in the Coaches Poll at No. 10 and finding their scoring ways up to 70 points per game again. Another one of top “stat-stuffin” players in our state, D’Aundre Samuels, leads the Angels in points, assists, and steals! Palmer is coming from down south and off to a 4-2 start. 

Junior guard Brady Kennison has a 36 point game under his belt already vs. Pueblo South and is averaging 18 per game for No. 9 Thompson Valley as they travel to Northridge. 

Wednesday 12/14
 

Two-time defending state champ ThunderRidge is now 4-1 and clearly made an early statement that they fully intend to defend their title once again in 2022-23. The Coaches Poll No. 5 Grizzlies have one loss that came in an overtime semifinal tourney game to Fossil Ridge. The Grizz have one of our states top players, regardless of class, in junior stud Andrew Crawford, who is scoring 24 points per game early on in season so far. Crawford is not alone in the scoring role as fellow junior Charlie Spann proved he’s more than capable of scoring in bunches dropping 31 in the double overtime game vs. Fossil Ridge. Overland, who is never scared of a tough early season schedule, will host ThunderRidge on this night. Two of our favorite and best coaches in the state go at it once again here as well!

Class 5A No. 9 Thompson Valley looks to keep things rolling vs. the Roosevelt Roughriders, who are looking for their first win.

A light night in our Coaches Poll Top 10 action but a couple other games that caught our Ball Fever crew’s eye that may be worth a look: Linclon (5-0) vs. Alameda worth checking out. Denver South vs. Monarch is another that should be fun!

Thursday 12/15 

Talented super sophomore Ladavian King has started the first five games of the season with 18 points per game as the floor general for 6A No. 9 Eaglecrest. King proved there is zero fear in him, leading Eaglecrest to the Coliseum last year and a deep playoff run. The Raptors start tournament play vs. Rocky Mountain this week.

Fossil Ridge won’t be the only squad from up north the Fever Crew will be discussing this year as Fort Collins comes out 3-0 and ranked eighth in 6A, and big 6-foot-8 Luke Wagstaff is averaging a “monsta” double-double of 25 points and 12 rebounds per game. The Lambkins travel to the Montbello (FNE) Warriors, who will be upset-minded in an early matchup.

Mead hoops is no stranger to fire power from their back court and seniors Tucker Mills along with Nick Basson are combining for 36 points per game so far, leading the Mavs to a 5-1 record and the No. 2 spot in the 5A Coaches Poll. Mead is headed into tourney action with Grand Junction Central, which boasts a 5-1 record as well.

George Washington is off to a very unfamiliar 0-6 start and it definitely doesn’t get easier as new 6A No. 1 Mountain Vista is up next. Big 6-foot-9 Caden Stevens leads the way for Vista at 15 points and six rebounds per game. This well-coached No. 1 squad doesn’t solely rely on Stevens as this squad is deep with 10 total seniors bringing a wealth of experience. This will be fun to follow!

Two Denver Prep squads, No. 10 Denver East and young Northfield will face each other in tournament play.

In 5A Top 10 action, No. 10 Windsor is coming in 2-3 but have strong wins on the season and they’ll tussle with No. 7 Vista Peak. Who will take a big step forward here?

In a battle of private schools, Regis Jesuit will take a shot at handing hot Valor Christian its first loss!

The must-see hoops continue with a 6A vs. 5A battle at Smoky Hill we can just about guarantee will be exciting and teams will get up and down the floor. Smoky’s Mitchell and their young talent we’ve already discussed and Pueblo South’s tough junior Maurice Austin brings the 5A No. 8 Pueblo South a 5-foot-8 “stat-stuffin” machine at 26 points, six rebounds, six assists, and five steals per game. In our Bart Scott voice:  “Can’t wait!”.

Friday 12/16 

Mullen Tournament action gets us started with an early 5:30 pm start between the No. 10 Denver East and the Legend Titans (3-1).

6A No. 2 Fossil Ridge is taking the show on the road making a visit to Rancho Solano Prep in Arizona which should prove to be a tough out-of-state challenge for the Sabercats.

5A No. 1 Frederick will tangle with tough Erie in a non-conference game. It will be tough for Erie to keep up with Frederick’s torrid scoring pace.

Did we mention how we love Overland’s non-conference schedule every year? The Trailblazers duck no one, but the same can be said about 6A No. 6 Rock Canyon.

There’s those Rangers! Lewis-Palmer is no stranger to being in the top five and once again they are the 5A No. 4 squad led by “stat-stuffin” senior Eli Robinson who leads in four of the five teams stat categories including 19 points per game.

We’ve discussed the scoring prowess of Crawford and Spann for 6A defending champ ThunderRidge and they close this night out with a visit to Ralston Valley and super soph scoring machine Tanner Braketa who has Ralston sitting as the No. 7 squad in 6A and averaging 26 points per outing. Top 10 Action to close out Friday night!

Saturday, 12/17 
Ok, we see ya 4A No. 1 Eagle Ridge Academy as you step up on take on the challenge of 5A No. 7 Vista Peak. Love to see how these classification clashes turn out!

Arizona out-of-state action again for 6A No. 2 Fossil Ridge as they represent Colorado agianst Valley Vista of Surprise, Ariz. Big man Nick Randall is ready to bring that 25 point, 10 rebound double-double average to the floor!

A road trip for 5A No. 4 Lewis-Palmer has the Rangers heading out to Steamboat Springs for the weekend!

Sheesh, folks! Too early for the word parity? There are some strong squads showing well early and more surprises to come, as this week the Coaches Poll saw four new teams claim the No. 1 spot across the state. Get out and enjoy these awesome athletes! “Snow, snow stay away so we can enjoy Week 3 the right way!”.

#BallFever