(12) Conant at (5) Somersworth

 Justin McIsaac & Jennifer Chick Ruth will be in Somersworth tomorrow night to bring you all the highlights of this one as well as an interview with the winning team.

 This is a game that pops out at you right away and it’s because there is a good chance Conant goes home in the first round for the first time since Grover Cleveland served his second term.

 The Conant name means something and so does the fact that they have the best coach in the division but a closer look tells you Somersworth should be a big favorite here.

 The Orioles have lost four of their last six games after a really good win at Campbell on February 3rd. The defense hasn’t been consistent and JP Record (17.4) been the only consistent scorer for Saucier. Peyton Springfield (9.6) has developed into a very good three point shooter but didn’t average in double figures on the season, even after 29 & 26 point performances against Raymond and Sanborn.

 What it all means is that Conant has to win with defense and execution. On Thursday night they play a Hilltoppers team that runs very good half-court offense against man to man defense (which Conant plays almost exclusively) and Bryton Early (17.8) is going to be a match-up challenge .

 Rob Fauci’s offense consistently gets into the 60’s and  this is a tournament resume that includes wins over Berlin, Gilford, Belmont and Campbell. This is a team that plays well in a wide open game so look for Saucier to slow the pace and try to make Somersworth play disciplined defense for long possessions.

 The Hilltoppers Vincent Loho, Tyler Clark, Chance Ennis and Evan Gray will try to create turnovers and speed Conant up by making them play from behind. Expect Eric Saucier to have a very specific game plan that Rob Fauci will need to adjust to.

 The last time Conant was sent home before the Final Four was in 2011 by Somersworth and tomorrow night they will be right back on that same floor again.

 Peyton’s older brother Devin was on the court that night and after the loss Saucier was asked if the Conant dynasty was over. It wasn’t, as two more Division III titles have followed in the seasons since, but Somersworth has a chance to make Conant a spectator for the quarterfinal round…and that would be big news around the state.