5A Boy's Sweet 16 Preview

DENVER—After two rounds, the original field of 48 is down to a fairly predictable, yet still sweet, 16.   Each of the top seeds won relatively comfortably in the second round, headlined by Regis’ 39 point victory over Monarch.

In the first round, ten was the magic number as each of the 10 seeds upset the 7‘s in their respective brackets.  In the second round, the clock struck midnight, and the championship dreams of the 10th seeded Cinderellas turned into pumpkins.

The most well represented conference in the second week of the tournament will be the Front Range league, which still has four teams remaining who have already won a combined seven playoff games.

City teams from the Denver Prep and Colorado Springs Metro leagues have three teams apiece after two rounds, including three of the the number one seeds: Montbello, Rampart and Fountain-Fort Carson.

The Continental and Jefferson County leagues have been the most disappointing so far.  Each league brought eight teams to the tournament, and only Regis and Highlands Ranch from the Continental, and Chaparral from Jefferson County still remain.

Arapahoe and Grandview remain from the Centennial League while Aurora Central is the lone representative from the Skyline League.

Tuesdays Sweet 16 games are:

JOHN CASEY REGION
(1) Rampart vs (5) Fort Collins: The C.S. Metro co-champions, Rampart take on the Lambkins who beat (5) Chaparral and (12) Coronado to get to the third round.

(2) Lincoln   vs. (3) Doherty: Two prolific scorers will be on display as Lincoln’s Dominic Williams takes on Doherty’s Tyler Velasquez.

RW TRUSCOTT REGION
(1) Regis     vs.  (5) Boulder: Regis’ road to Boulder goes through Boulder.  The number one overall seed and defending state champions has won 22 straight ball games.

(2) Arapahoe vs. (3) Denver East: Will East’s balanced Angels be able to overcome the Warriors potent Tim Billingsly and Parker Semin?  Arapahoe is going for its tenth straight victory and a shot at the elite eight.

GLENN WILSON REGION
(1) Fountain-Fort Carson vs. (4) Aurora Central: Fountain-Fort Carson may be the best team from the best conference in the state.  Aurora Central’s starting lineup may be the most high flying fivesome in the state.

(2) Chatfield vs. (3) Highlands Ranch: Highlands Ranch has beaten good teams, and lost to good teams.  Which Ranch will show up?  Chatfield narrowly escaped 10th seed Rocky Mountain in the second round, 79-73.

RAY C. BALL REGION
(1) Montbello vs. (4) Grandview: Montbello is big, strong and heady; Led by seniors Isaiah Cooper and Roderick Taylor, the Warriors believe the title is theirs to take.  Grandview has four players averaging double figure points, but as a team are 0-4 against Sweet 16 teams.  

(2) Fairview vs. (6) Mountain Range: Fairview beat Mountain Range on February 12th 68-49 at Mountain Range.  On a team which features 10 seniors, Darragh O’Neill and Michael Melillo are head of Fairview’s class.
 
Contact the writer at csilverman@milehighhoops.com