The Valor Christian varsity basketball team (Highlands Ranch, CO) will play a home playoff game against Denver East (Denver, CO) today at 7 p.m. This game is part of the 2025 CHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournaments – Class 6A.

Valor Christian vs Denver East Game Info:

What: Colorado High School Basketball
Who: Valor Christian (CO) vs Denver East (CO)
When: Friday, February 28, 2025
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Bracket: 2025 CHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournaments – Class 6A
Live stream: Watch here

Game preview: Valor Christian vs Denver East

The basketball season for both Denver East and Valor Christian has unfolded with contrasting performances, showcasing differences in consistency, scoring, and overall team dynamics. As we analyze both teams’ performances and statistics, the comparison highlights not only their strengths but also the challenges they face as the season progresses.

Season Overview

Denver East enters the 2024-2025 season with an overall record of 10-14, struggling to find consistency in both league play (3-7) and non-league matchups (0-4). While their home record stands at a solid 6-4, they have struggled on the road, going just 1-9. This indicates that Denver East’s ability to perform away from their home court is one of their major challenges.

On the other hand, Valor Christian has been a dominant force this season, with an impressive 19-4 record. Their league performance has been particularly stellar, boasting a 11-1 mark, and their away performance (6-1) underscores their ability to succeed on the road. This resilience is one of the defining characteristics of Valor Christian’s season, as they have not only excelled at home (8-2) but also showed their ability to handle neutral-site games (5-1).

Scoring Comparison

Looking at scoring averages, Denver East has an average of 63.4 points per game, with their highest production coming in the second quarter (18.7 points per game) and the lowest in the fourth quarter (14.1 points per game). Their scoring seems to dip in the later stages of games, indicating a potential issue with closing out games or maintaining a strong offensive flow.

In contrast, Valor Christian averages 71.0 points per game, a full 7.6 points higher than Denver East. Their scoring is well-distributed throughout the game, with the highest output occurring in the fourth quarter (18.7 points per game). This shows Valor Christian’s ability to finish strong, a crucial factor in their success.

Team Leaders

For Denver East, James Murray leads the team in multiple categories, including scoring (13.7 PPG), rebounds (6.6 RPG), and blocks (1.0 BPG). His all-around contributions are crucial for the team’s performance, though his efforts may not always be enough to secure wins.

On the other hand, Valor Christian is led by Cole Scherer, whose scoring (26.7 PPG) far exceeds any of his teammates and places him among the top performers in the league. Scherer’s ability to not only score but also contribute in rebounds (8.6 RPG), assists (5.0 APG), steals (2.7 SPG), and blocks (1.2 BPG) makes him a complete player. Scherer’s all-around performance is a major reason for Valor Christian’s success this season.

Team Stat Comparison

When it comes to key team statistics, Valor Christian holds a noticeable advantage in most areas:

• Points Per Game: Valor Christian scores 71.0 PPG compared to Denver East’s 63.3 PPG.
• Rebounds: Valor Christian edges out Denver East with 28.4 RPG compared to 26.7 RPG.
• Assists: Valor Christian also leads in assists, averaging 16.2 APG to Denver East’s 13.9 APG.
• Steals: Denver East has a slight edge with 10.5 SPG, but Valor Christian follows closely at 8.3 SPG.
• Blocks: Both teams are tied in blocks per game, each with 3.7 BPG.

Common Opponents

Looking at common opponents provides a clearer view of how each team fares against similar competition. Denver East holds a 1-2 record against common opponents, including a win against Columbine and losses to Windsor and Regis Jesuit. In comparison, Valor Christian has an impressive 4-0 record against the same teams, demonstrating their ability to outperform teams that Denver East struggled with.

Both teams faced Windsor and Columbine in early matchups, with Valor Christian securing victories in both contests, while Denver East fell short against Windsor and managed only a narrow win against Columbine.

Head-to-Head Performance

While Denver East and Valor Christian haven’t faced each other yet this season, their differing paths suggest an intriguing matchup when they do. Denver East will need to overcome their struggles on the road and their inconsistency in scoring if they hope to challenge Valor Christian’s offensive firepower and balanced play.

Looking Ahead

With the postseason approaching, Denver East will need to find ways to perform more consistently, especially in away games and closing out contests. Valor Christian, however, looks poised to make a deep playoff run, as they have the advantage in scoring, defensive consistency, and leadership from key players like Cole Scherer.

Ultimately, the contrast between these two teams’ seasons reflects their differing levels of success and ability to execute. As the season progresses, Denver East will need to build on their strengths, while Valor Christian looks to maintain their dominant form as they gear up for the postseason.