(Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)
As the New Year comes along it usually takes brings with it the shift of non-league into league contests, but Saturday the Continental and Centennial leagues resolve unfitted business.
The CHSAANow.com No. 5 Cherry Creek Bruins take on the defending Class 5A champion ThunderRidge Grizzlies.
This is a big game for both teams as they look to get their seasons filled with high expectations back on track. The Grizzlies (4-6 overall) are off to a slow start but look to be contenders in the Continental League accompanied by Highlands Ranch and Regis Jesuit.
The Bruins (4-4) on the other hand, have suffered only one in-state loss. That came at the hands of No. 2 Ralston Valley. All other Bruin losses were suffered in out-of-state games. Two of the ThunderRidge losses were in out-of-state games.
Multiple big time players have been added to the roster this year and are already making an impact for the team. One of which is senior guard and St. Leo University commit Delaney Bernard.
“It’s been an easy transition and this team feels like a family more than any other team I’ve played on,” Bernard said. “I’m extremely excited for the season to start picking up, I think this team works well together and we can do great things together.”
The Bruins have also been plagued with inactives early in the season so the team will only get more dangerous as players return to action.
“We will only be that much better,” Bernard said. “Everyone is looking forward to when we have everyone back and playing.”
As the team progresses along in the year, they will pickup new weapons and new ways to attack which may wreak havoc on opposing coaching trying to gameplan. That havoc starts on Saturday.
“My mentality and I know the rest of the teams going into this game is to focus on what we do,” Bernard said. “(Doing) those things best will lead us to a win.”