5A-4A boys' basketball preview: Doherty again is team to beat

The 5A boys’ basketball landscape has some different faces, but the power remains in the same places as previous years.

The three-time defending champs of the 5A Metro Conference, Doherty, lost some of its key players from a 23-4 season in 2008; however they still look to be at the top of the league.

“We have set a pretty high standard here, going 80-16 in the last four seasons,” Doherty coach Dan McKiernan said. “Our league will be one of the most competitive in the state this season, and we want to compete at a high level.”

To be successful against other 5A powers Rampart, Fountain-Fort Carson and Palmer, the Spartans will look to a Velasquez to lead the offense. Only this year, it will be Tyler Velasquez filling his brother Bryse’s shoes as team leader.

“Tyler is a different kind of player, he is more of a shooter and scorer where Bryse was an assist leader,” McKiernan said. “He’s a very quiet leader, but he is a good teammate and leads by example.”

Tyler knows that he will be the go-to-guy, and he is ready for the limelight.

“People will always compare me to Bryse, but we really play a lot different,” the senior shooting guard said. “Our younger guys and point guards will have to step up and get the offense going as well.”

The teams looking to knock the Spartans off their conference throne all look ready and able for the challenge.

Rampart, Fountain-Fort Carson and Palmer all return four starters and plenty of depth that will give the 5A Metro a competitive feel.

The 4A Metro race is also loaded with talent, including the defending state champions from Sierra.

The Stallions had a tremendous turnout for basketball tryouts this fall, and appear more than ready to defend their league and state championship.

Lewis-Palmer went to the final four last year and has four starters back, including preseason conference Player of the Year favorite Kyle Engelhardt.

Cheyenne Mountain returns three starters, and will be big and athletic at many positions, which could move it toward the top of the standings.

TEAM CAPSULES

5A CS Metro
Air Academy Kadets
Coach: Barry Clark, second year
Last year’s record: 4-19
Returning starters: 2
Key players: Nate Bailey, senior forward; Aaron Blum, senior guard
Key losses: Jason Goins (graduated), Anthony Cardinale (graduated)
Key newcomers: N/A
Team strengths: Senior leadership
Team weaknesses: Lack of depth

Coronado Cougars
Coach: Al Blanc, first year
Last year’s record: N/A
Returning starters: 2
Key players: Ben Foley, senior; Tyree Deas
Key losses: N/A
Key newcomers: Mick Allen, senior forward; Jason Lemmon, senior forward
Team strengths: Underclassmen
Team weaknesses: Chemistry with a new coach and system

Doherty Spartans
Coach: Dan McKiernan, fifth year
Last year’s record: 23-4 (5A quarterfinals)
Returning starters: 3
Key players: Tyler Velasquez, senior guard; Mark Jones, senior guard; Matt Oesterle, senior center; Dylan Sisneros, junior forward
Key losses: Bryse Velasquez (graduated), Manny Sisneros (graduated), Miles Peterson (transfer to Japan)
Key newcomers: Jacob Lancaster
Team strengths: Experience, excellent quickness and strong depth
Team weaknesses: Enough size to play with Denver schools

Fountain-Fort Carson Trojans
Coach: Anthony Ribaudo, eighth season
Last year’s record: 17-8
Returning starters: 4
Key players: Chris Davis, junior guard; Harrison Hunter, senior point guard; Malcolm Thomas, senior guard; Martin Thomas, senior forward; Troy Dorsey, senior point guard
Key losses: Devyn Harris
Key newcomers: Dominique Weight (transfer from Palmer)
Team strengths: Overall depth, experience and quickness
Team weaknesses: Lack of size, rebounding

Liberty Lancers
Coach: Jim Masterson, ninth year
Last year’s record: 9-15
Returning starters: 2
Key players: Wes McKenzie, senior guard (20.5 ppg, first team all-league); TJ Holt, senior guard; Nate Weeden, senior
Key losses: Bobby Kindig (graduated); Shanon Nicholson (graduated)
Key newcomers: Nick Brown, junior guard; JJ Masterson, senior guard (returning from injury)
Team strengths: Strong guard play
Team weaknesses: Height/inside play

Palmer Terrors
Coach: Jim Grantz, seventh year
Last year’s record: 12-13
Returning starters: 4
Key players: Terrell Brown, junior guard; Jalen Little, sophomore guard; Andre Brown, senior forward; Dominic Rufran, junior guard; Brandon Deese, junior guard
Key losses: Zach Hawkins (graduated), Micah Edwards (graduated)
Key newcomers: N/A
Team strengths: Experienced, good balance and team chemistry
Team weaknesses: Needs young players to step into roles

Pine Creek Eagles
Coach: Joel Babbitt, first year
Last year’s record: 2-21
Returning starters: 2
Key players: Devin Kastrup, junior center; Steven Aldaz, junior point guard; Josh Gee, senior forward
Key losses: N/A
Key newcomers: Elliot Hamdeed (transfer from St. Mary’s)
Team strengths: Strong frontcourt
Team weaknesses: New system

Rampart Rams
Coach: J’on St. Clair, sixth year
Last year’s record: 21-4
Returning starters: 4
Key players: Alex Koehler, senior guard; Jacob Kimsey, senior forward; Devon Grant, senior guard; Lance Evans, senior forward
Key losses: Nick Reff (died)
Key newcomers: Josh Peete, senior forward; Reuben Riggs-Russell, senior guard
Team strengths: 3-point shooting, depth and experience
Team weaknesses: Size, rebounding and dealing with the death of a teammate

Sand Creek Scorpions
Coach: Aaron Williams, second year
Last year’s record: 13-10
Returning starters: 2
Key players: Anthony Olivieria, senior point guard; Dammian Terry, senior center; Danny Smith, junior forward
Key losses: Nick Fox (graduated), Julian Mills (graduated)
Key newcomers: Kevin Daniels (senior transfer from Germany)
Team strengths: Balanced attack with some depth
Team weaknesses: Lack of experience, new offensive and defensive schemes

4A CS Metro
Cheyenne Mountain Indians
Coach: Chad Belveal, second year
Last year’s record: 17-9
Returning starters: 3
Key players: Logan Mueller, senior forward; Geoff Pippus, senior guard; Dustin Sisneros, senior guard
Key losses: Robbie Belveal (graduated), Patrick Heckmann (graduated)
Key newcomers: N/A
Team strengths: Big, athletic
Team weaknesses: Not very physical

Falcon Falcons
Coach: Doug Ravasdy, second year
Last year’s record: 17-8
Returning starters: 1
Key players: Paul Rotering, senior forward; Jared Wilson, junior guard
Key losses: Adam Link (graduated)
Key newcomers: Julian Foster (transfer from New Mexico)
Team strengths: Will have length and be athletic
Team weaknesses: Inexperience

Harrison Panthers: no report

Lewis-Palmer Rangers
Coach: Russ McKinstry, fifth year
Last year’s record: 19-8 (4A semifinals)
Returning starters: 4
Key players: Kyle Engelhardt, senior forward (20.7 ppg); Seth Cavera, senior point guard; Jordan Ververs, senior guard; Brandon Lane, senior forward
Key losses: Cole Schumaker (graduated)
Key newcomers: Josh Scott (transfer from Discovery Canyon), Kurt Cena (transfer from Air Academy)
Team strengths: Experience and depth
Team weaknesses: Height

Mesa Ridge Grizzlies
Coach: John Iwanski, first year
Last year’s record: 6-17
Returning starters: 2
Key players: Deontay Galbearth, senior center; Carlos Torres, senior point guard
Key losses: Brantley Alexander (graduated), Brian Anding (graduated)
Key newcomers: Nick Smith (transfer from Widefield)
Team strengths: Leadership of the six seniors
Team weaknesses: Transition from zone defense to man-to-man

Mitchell Marauders
Coach: Jeff Cooks, first season
Last year’s record: N/A
Returning starters: 4
Key players: MonDarrius Benson, senior point guard; Zach Simms, senior guard; David Snipes, junior guard; Anthony Hamilton, junior guard
Key losses: LeShawn Hamilton
Key newcomers: N/A
Team strengths: Experience and speed
Team weaknesses: Size and depth

Sierra Stallions
Coach: Otis Johnson, second year
Last year’s record: 23-5 (4A state champions)
Returning starters: 2
Key players: Kamryn Williams, senior forward (2008 4A tournament MVP,  all-state honors by Denver Post); Jahmall Fountain, senior guard (2008 4A all-tournament team); Tyrell Johnson, senior point guard; Chris Fielder, senior guard
Key losses: Kelby Dias (graduated), Erik Fielder (graduated), Marquis Burleson (graduated), Jamil Cooks (graduated), Clarence Bumpas (graduated)
Key newcomers: Mark Hatcher, senior; William Saunders, senior; Wesley Gordon, sophomore (transfer from Wasson)
Team strengths: Length, speed and defense
Team weaknesses: Loss of a talented group of seniors from state title team

Wasson Thunderbirds: No report

Widefield Gladiators
Coach: Brent Garretson, first year
Last year’s record: N/A
Returning starters: N/A (new coach)
Key players: Raymond Canty, senior guard; Justin Wallace, senior guard; Matt Sweitzer, senior center; Chris Ashe, senior forward
Key losses: N/A
Key newcomers: N/A
Team strengths: Deep with seniors and experience
Team weaknesses: Needs to find a good starting lineup

Woodland Park Panthers
Coach: Brian Gustafson, ninth year
Last year’s record: 4-19
Returning starters: 3
Key players: Alex Fenlon, junior forward (started every game as sophomore); senior forward Austin Burgess; senior guard Greg Martinez
Key losses: Jared Giambalvo (graduated), Joel Schierle (graduated)
Key newcomers: N/A
Team strengths: excellent range
Team weaknesses: Tough Metro schedule

4A Pioneer
Palmer Ridge Bears
Coach: Nick Mayer, second year
Last year’s record: 13-9
Returning starters: 5
Key players: Collin Babcock, junior forward; Richard Hansen, junior forward; Garrett Fritzsche, sophomore forward; Evan Anderson, junior guard; Eric Marty, sophomore guard
Key losses: N/A
Key newcomers: N/A
Team strengths: Defense and depth
Team weaknesses: Inexperience

Vista Ridge Wolves
Coach: Gregg Gonzales, second year
Last year’s record: 5-16
Returning starters: 3
Key players: Ricky Buchanan, junior point guard; T.J. Frison, junior guard; Aron Harris, junior forward; Josh McKenzie, sophomore forward
Key losses: N/A
Key newcomers: David Howell (transfer from Sand Creek), Mitchell Lewis (transfer from Florida), Andre Lyseight (Germany)
Team strengths: Young team that finally had a chance to play a full season together last year
Team weaknesses: Inconsistent putting the ball in the basket at times

4A South Central
Cañon City Tigers
Coach: Joe Pollart, third season
Last year’s record: 8-12
Returning starters: 2
Key players: Trevor Ford, senior center; Steven Trainor, senior forward; Maxwell Javernick, junior guard; Zach Solis, senior forward
Key losses: N/A
Key newcomers: N/A
Team strengths: Size and team attitude
Team weaknesses: Varsity experience and depth