Division III

 (3) Conant vs. (1) Pelham

 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 Pelham win Saturday?:  They put Conant in such a hole early that they have to, or at least feel they have to, push the tempo to get back in it. Pelham wants to get out and go…Conant most certainly does not.

  The team that wins the battle of pace frustrates the other. Over 900 people have watched highlights of Ryan Cloutier dunking on Gilford ..you think he wants to hang out 22 feet from the hoop against against a packed in man to man defense?

 Dylan Silvestri needs to earn a draw on the low block with Brandon Ford and if Ryan Rondeau (12 points against Campbell and they needed every one of them) is knocking down jumpers everything tends to come together for Matt Regan’s team. Pelham has so many guys that can hit long range jumpers that it spreads you out. Does Conant come back with the 2-3/match-up zone they played against Berlin??

 Regan wants to try and get Brown to the low block to score over smaller guards and take advantage of his ability to finish down low. That has been a problem for Conant and one they'll try and solve before Saturday.

How does Conant win Saturday?: Unlike Campbell, Conant wasn’t saving anything for a possible third meeting with Pelham. What the Orioles did back in mid-January during a 40-34 loss will be similar to what you’ll see Saturday afternoon. Sure there will be adjustments and tweaks but Eric Saucier isn’t inventing something up in a lab in Jaffrey. You might see the 2-3/match-up zone Conant played against Pelham but they know going in that Pelham murders zones and has seen it on film (thanks to a generous Gold level donation!!)

 Conant went zone because of Degrenier’s absence. That zone kept his players fresh while they played a man short  and Saucier knew Berlin was a team that struggled to score and would be thrown off for a bit by the tactic. It played out that way.

 The Orioles will be patient on offense and carry the momentum from their semifinal win. Simeon Hodgson stepped up huge along with J.P Record to flash a glimpse of what this backcourt can very soon be.

  The underrated piece the numbers won’t reveal was big man C.J Bilodeau who went toe to toe (elbow to elbow..) with Levi Arsenault all night long and won the battle on the glass. Brandon Ford outplayed Nick Foder at the center spot and that strength will oppose a supposed weakness of Pelham Saturday afternoon.

  Is Pelham vulnerable down low? Campbell certainly thought so as they worked the ball to Harrison Vedrani off of dribble drives time & time again. When Dylan Silvestri went out of the game with a fourth foul the weakness became even more glaring. That’s something to watch.

 Both teams are a play or two away from not being here so they’ve used every new set or play in the arsenal..it will be about pace and the quality of shots.