Welcome back, hoops fans! It’s that time of year: #MileHighMadness has arrived. When it comes to excitement our last couple of weeks leading to league titles certainly did not let us down and this next month of bracket play will be equally exciting. Time for some lifelong dreams of a state title to come true!
There is NO PERFECT ANSWER regarding the final 6A and 5A Seeding Index but thankfully our awesome athletes don’t play this “Mile High Madness” out on the internet…it will be settled on the hardwood!
Those who follow Ball Fever also know we don’t think this is a rare time for Colorado hoops, but a result of numerous factors leading to good basketball being played on our high school courts. The buzz about Colorado hoops is legit and we can thank a growing basketball community for that from our peewee rec leagues to competitive club ball, increasing individual personal training opportunities, and truly dedicated high school staffs. The basketball product hitting the Colorado hardwood is improving and colleges of all levels are taking notice! Great time to be a part of Colorado hoops … let’s get to the Madness!
6A BRACKET
Region 1
“Let me know what you see out there, Coach T!” Bert Borgmann
(Rest Peacefully, my guy…)
Our overall #1 seed Rangeview is coming in as the hottest squad in the state at a perfect 23-0 on the regular season and 10-0 in the tough 6A City League. The motor that runs the Raiders 73 points per game average is floor general LaDavian King who averages 16 points and 3 assists per game. Horizon is the next highest seed at #8 in Region 1 and the Fever Crew expects them to see a tested Grandview squad in round 2 if the Wolves can win their play in game vs. Continental League Castle View.
FAVORITES
We’d be nuts to not think the overall #1 seed would have a great chance to advance in any of the brackets they’d be placed in and they look on a mission to get the title. LaDavian King (Southeastern University commit) is in no way a solo show as “FRESHMAN ALERT” big man Marceles Duncan is averaging 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 blocks per outing! Adding to the Raiders bright future is versatile soph Archie Weatherspoon at 13 points and 4 assists of his own each game.
WATCH OUT FOR
George Washington has faced Rangeview twice this season and lost by 9 and 10 points respectively in those pretty competitive games. Should they earn a third shot at the #1 Raiders it’s always tough to beat a squad for the third time BUT the Fever Crew has an eye on the #9 seed in this region: Regis Raiders. Regis is led by big man Eric Fiedler’s 24 points per game and with a 17-6 overall record this squad has been out of state this season and primed possibly after a tough Continental league run that finished with two wins over Heritage and Rock Canyon.
Region 2
Continental League champion Eaglecrest is coming in as the #2 overall seed with a record of 21-2 overall including an “En Fuego” 14-game win streak!!! Ant Nettles is straight “stat-stuffin’” for the Raptors leading the team in FOUR statistical categories including his 14 points per game while big man Garrett Barger is handling the inside game at 9 rebounds per game. Eaglecrest locked up the Centennial League title with a tight 4-point win over Smoky Hill leaving them undefeated and battle tested in the ultra strong #CentennialTough gauntlet!
FAVORITES
The #7 seed in this region is perennial power ThunderRidge who’s riding an 8-game win streak coming into tourney play and Drew Paine’s 19 points, 8 rebounds per game. The Grizzlies have the pedigree and coaching staff who’s been here before and can make some noise.
WATCH OUT FOR
The Fever Crew was able to catch a couple of Northfield games live this year and they’ve been up and down but have certainly proven they can hang with any 6A opponent after many close City League games and always competitive with big guard Judah Michael’s 16 points and 6 rebounds leading the way. Arvada West will need their A game to hold off the Nighthawks Round 1. And many of us may not be familiar with Fruita Monument from out west but they have a guard/forward tandem as good as any 6A squad when healthy in lethal scorers Jhett Wells and Daniel Thomason.
Region 3
They “young guns’ over at Chaparral were on a 12-game win streak before losing their final game of the season to our Ball Fever “sleeper” Mountain Vista by 10. The Wolverines have a pair of “super sophs” in lefty Luke Howery and Christian Williams leading the squad in just about every statistical category and certainly not playing like underclassmen at this stage of the season. Add in junior Luke Williams rebounding/shot blocking inside with “FRESHMAN ALERT” Champ Spears shooting very close to 50% from three point land any team will have their hands full with Chap!
FAVORITES
Nothing Chap would like more probably than another shot at the Fever Crew “sleeper” Mountain Vista who is the #6 seed in this region. Big man Oliver Junker is a “double-double” machine and senior guard Cal Baskind’s 20 points per game give the Golden Eagles the inside/outside punch our Crew loves come tourney play.
WATCH OUT FOR
Someone say #CentennialTough??? Smoky Hill, who got late, and made a run to the league final vs. Eaglecrest is hitting their stride at the right time. Much like Smoky, watch out for Overland as well who annually face one of the toughest in and out-of-state schedules purposely designed by one ouf our states best, Coach Danny Fisher.
Region 4
The #4 overall seed, Ralston Valley, shared the #1 ranking in our weekly Seeding Index poll with Rangeview and that was fully earned with their season long winning streak before suffering their only 2 losses late in season to Valor and Mountain Vista. Certainly no shame in those losses! The Mustangs are fueled by the tandem who share the same last name in brothers Tanner and Caiden Braketa both averaging over 16 points per game. Defense better get a hand up as soon as the Braketa bros cross half court!
FAVORITES
6A defending champ, you say? Ralston Valley had two late losses and we mentioned above that one came to the defending champ Valor Christian. Always tough to bounce the champ who will fight to the end to taste last year’s magic one more time. Speaking of players who can flat out fill up the hoop, look no further than Valor’s Cole Scherer who’s at a SIZZLING 27 points per game and had 15 in the tight 60-57 win over Ralston Valley just a couple weeks ago.
WATCH OUT FOR
Another squad with an ultra bright future is Denver South Ravens but they also are led by two seniors in Dominic Rhoades-Martinez and Damien Dirden who are both scoring in double figures and have the Ravens believing they can beat anyone on a given night. Battle tested? How about having to face the overall #1 seed Rangeview three times this season including the City League title game most recently.
5A BRACKET
Region 1
Our 5A overall #1 seed is Lutheran (Parker) on a 7-game win streak and 20-3 overall record. Big fella Kade Speckman is pacing Lutheran averaging a 22 point, 10 rebound “monsta” double-double.
FAVORITES
We’ve talked about “hot” and Severance at the 8 seed in Region 1 is on a 13 game win streak heading into tourney play. Junior Blake Varney is leading Severance’s balanced attack where they have 3 players averaging double figures in scoring led by Varney’s 12 per outing.
WATCH OUT FOR
Cheyenne Mountain, #9 overall seed, will be motivated to get back on track after a season ending loss to Palmer Ridger. They’ve faced 5A’s toughest in Lutheran and Palmer Ridge a few times and will look to feed off those experiences to make a post-season run here!
Region 2
Previously mentioned Mesa Ridge was the other 5A squad that consistently stayed at the #1 or #2 spot during the seasons Seeding Index rankings throughout the season. Point guard Bryce Rhiel’s 17 points per night leads the 5A defending champ who have a very solid argument that they could be the top seed on an UNBELIEVABLE 22 game winning streak after losing only their first game of the season to 6A Liberty.
FAVORITES
A record setting season by Standley Lake landed them at 18-5 overall and the 7 seed in post season tourney play. No one covers Jeffco like Dennis Pleuss and you can check out some of the current staff who are proud to be a part of the new generation breaking old records.
WATCH OUT FOR
Almost a shame Mead and Lewis-Palmer face each other early in the bracket here. Neither team is a stranger to 5A post season play and Mead is the higher seed this season but Lewis Palmer had a mid-season 6 game win streak that caught attention down south before a late season slide.
Region 3
Dakota Ridge, #3 overall seed, is flying high and celebrating a 3-peat taking home another Jeffco League title this season and senior Ethan Berninger can fill it up! His 28 point night the evening Dakota Ridge fully covered again by our own Dennis Pleuss.
FAVORITES
Windsor, #6 seed, will look to return to the Coliseum again this year after getting to last years final. Only a sophomore at the time look out for junior Madden Smiley to be even hungrier after last year’s experience leading the Wizards on another late run.
WATCH OUT FOR
Some may have written Longmont off early in the season as they started of 0-3 before ripping off 9 wins in a row early season. The Trojans are now 15-8 overall and finished season with a solid final win over Frederick.
Region 4
Montrose took a tough 30-point loss in final game of season but that came at the hands of 6A Western Slope power Fruita Monument. Montrose will look to take that experience and build on their 17-6 overall record this season.
FAVORITES
Earning a first round bye just like Montrose in this Region is #5 Seed Discovery Canyon. The Thunder are 16-7 overall with 3 of those losses coming to ranked 5A squads in their final 4 games before getting a finale win over Lewis Palmer to head into the playoffs with a bit of momentum.
WATCH OUT FOR
If the Thunder can survive Round 2 they may just be in for a even tougher test vs. 12 Seed Eagle Valley who are coming from out west with a 17-6 record and 4-game win streak to close out the regular season. The Devils will be out to show the Western Slope can ball!
OK folks, not only is the hoops HOT, but the weather looks like it’s going to be great for Round 1 and 2 of our #MileHighMadness. Whether it’s your neighborhood fav, alma mater, or a brand new hot team, get out there and enjoy our version of the MADNESS! #BallFever