(3) Epping vs. (4) Wilton-Lyndeborough

 We’re going with something a little different for this year’s championship previews. We’ll dial it down to one question for each team; how do they win Saturday?

 How does Epping win Saturday?:  First of all they need to deny Jordan Litts when he gives up the basketball. Everyone seems to talk about what they are going to do when Litts has the ball when in reality, you’re already in trouble at that point. Littleton did a decent job of pressuring Litts but a very poor job of denying him the pass back. When WLC players have the ball in their hands they have two thoughts in their head 1) Can I get a shot or a lane to the basket? And 2) Hey where’s Jordan?

 Once Litts gives it up you need to face guard him, deny, double, whatever it takes to make that pass back more difficult or even impossible.

 Epping has the size to defend Ty Carrier with Jackson Rivers (20 points in the semifinal win) and Brett Couture. They need to get out on Trey Carrier and Casey Lane in the corners, where they like to set up, and not sacrifice a three pointer for contesting a Litts pull up jumper.

 Offensively there isn’t much to change. Get the ball to Couture on the block, see how they defend it and have My Man Colby Wilson ready for the kick out and Rivers cutting to the basket weak side. Take the opportunities to run when you have it and watch for Carrier sneaking down the floor for easy baskets.
 
 How does Wilton-Lyndeborough win Saturday?: They run, they get points in transition while Rivers and Couture are trailing the play. They push hard up the sidelines with Carrier or Lane and have Litts fill the middle of the floor.

 You realize that Sean Young is throwing something elaborate at Litts and have your kids prepared for each scenario. ‘Box & 1 we are going here…triangle & 2 here…the Jerry Tarkanian ameba defense..’well..  you get the point. I wouldn’t put it past Sean…

 Defensively you take My Man Colby Wilson away by face guarding him off the ball. You let Carrier go one on one with Couture and you force Derosier, Tommy Bullock & Rivers to take jumpers by bottling up the paint. Run at every opportunity and scrap the 1-3-1 for straight man to man.
 
 Lisbon head coach Sam Natti & I will have full coverage of this one as we wrap up Division IV and crown the first of four state champions.