Schools

Medfield Boys' Hoops Can Clinch Tourney Berth With Win On Senior Night

Warriors host Millis tonight, one win shy of qualifying for state tournament; Girls' basketball plays in Millis tonight at 6:30 p.m; Medfield boys' hockey takes on Medway in Franklin at 8:30 p.m.

Tonight was already an important night for the Medfield High School boys' basketball team as it honors its four seniors, but now there is added meaning to the Warriors' game with Millis. Medfield is one win away from clinching a berth in the state tournament and can do so tonight, at home, on senior night, doesn't get much better than that. On the girls' side, Medfield looks to keep its unbeaten record in the Tri-Valley League intact when it travels to Millis for a 6:30 p.m . game against the Mohawks. The boys' hockey team is also in action tonight in Franklin for a big game against Medway at 8:30 p.m.

Boys' Basketball:

Millis (4-12, 3-12) at Medfield (9-7, 9-7)
, Medfield, 6:30 p.m. 

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Entering the final week of the regular season Monday, Medfield needed two wins in three remaining games to clinch a spot in this year's state tournament. The Warriors went out and grabbed the first victory needed in a 71-54 triumph of Holliston Monday at MHS. Freshman Drew Shea led the team with 20 points and Ben Coutinho added 14. Tom Conlon (12) and Sam Tawa (10) also made significant contributions on offense. Conlon was also the Warriors' leading rebounder with nine boards, one shy of a double-double. 

One win down, one win to go for Medfield, who squares off against a pesky Millis team that always plays the Warriors tough and will look to play spoiler on Senior Night.

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"Our game tonight will be tough," said Medfield head coach Herb Grace. "Millis always plays us tough, hopefully we can pull it out."

A key to the Warriors "pulling it out" will be the play of its young, but very talented forwards. In the first meeting between these two teams on Jan. 14, in a 71-60 Warriors' victory. The Mohawks stayed close for the majority of the game thanks in large part to excellent perimeter shooting by their guards. Medfield will have to limit those opportunity and play better perimeter defense to shut down Millis' offense. 

The record may not show it, but Millis tends to play well in big games and there is no doubt head coach Thomas Ingraham will have his Mohawks ready to go tonight, playing for nothing more than pride and next season at this point of the year. Millis is coming off a 47-38 loss to Dover-Sherborn, the same Raiders team that swept Medfield this season. 

Prediction: This is an important night for Medfield and one that will be filled with plenty of emotion as its seniors are recognized. Those players are: guard Ben Coutinho, guard Jake Bankert, guard Elliot Nolan and forward/center Sam Aronson. Adding to the pre-game festivities is what a win means for the Warriors: a trip to the state tournament. Medfield may come out too excited and too emotional in the opening minutes, which could be Millis' opportunity to build an early lead, but with Medfield's size and ability in the paint, no deficit will be too small unless the Mohawks are shooting lights out from the field. 

This game will be close, as almost all of them are between these two clubs, but Medfield is home and the Warriors have a lot to play for, wanting to secure a playoff berth before entering Friday's game against Norton. Look for Shea, Tawa and Conlon to play major roles for Medfield tonight and for the Warriors to net that playoff berth. Medfield to win.

Girls' Basketball:

Medfield (17-1, 16-0) at Millis (3-15, 2-14)
Millis High School, Millis, 6:30 p.m. 

The Warriors continue to dominate the TVL this season. A game after clinching the league title, Medfield remained focused on the court and beat Holliston on the road, Monday, 58-42, improving to 16-0 in the TVL.

"The team played very well defensively, holding Holliston to 24 points through three quarters," said Medfield coach Mark Nickerson. "We almost had three players with double-doubles.  Jen Narlee had 13 points and 11 rebounds, Natalie Dickinson had 10 points and 10 rebounds and Lauren Petit had 14 points and 9 rebounds."

Those trio of players and production in the paint have been a key to the Warriors' success this season, but all comes secondhand to the smothering defense it plays night in and night out. Medfield travels to Millis tonight to take on an extremely young Mohawks' squad that is coming off a win against Dover-Sherborn, 35-34, on Friday. On Jan. 14, Medfield defeated Millis, 75-21.

Millis head coach David Fallon pointed to the Warriors' size and well-balanced play for their success and said his team will have to do what no TVL team has been able to do this season in order to win.

"To beat them you have to play very well for the entire 32 minutes, which no team in the TVL has been able to do this year," said Fallon. "You have to limit your turnovers, limit their break opportunities, rebound, and make shots. This is a challenge for any opponent and as a young team especially true.  We will give it our best shot."

Prediction: Medfield's well-balanced size of basketball coupled with the athleticism and size of its players will pose the biggest problems for any young team, especially Millis. Fallon said the Warriors' can beat you with more than one style of play. Medfield runs an uptempo-style of basketball well when the defense is forcing turnovers, but can also set up in the half-court and feed the ball to its forwards for baskets. Look for the Warriors to execute that game plan and for Millis to turn in a solid effort, even if the results aren't there on the court. Medfield to win by double digits. 

Boys' Hockey:

Medfield (11-4-3, 8-2-2) at Medway (11-2-1, 8-1-1)
Veteran's Arena, Franklin, 8:30 p.m. 

It has been a tough stretch for the Warriors as they have tied and lost their past two games against teams they expected to beat. 

Last Wednesday, the Warriors blew a four-goal lead in the third period to Dover-Sherborn in a game that resulted in a 6-6 tie. Three days later, Medfield fell, 3-1 to Ashland, a team the Warriors defeated on Jan. 19, 5-1. 

Medfield's recent lapse on the ice has come at the worst possible time of the season. Not only was the team chasing Westwood for the Tri-Valley League title, it was staying ahead of Medway for second-place of the TVL standings. Now, it appears Medfield will not catch Westwood in the TVL and finds itself a game behind Medway for second-place. 

More reason, tonight's game against the Mustangs is crucial to Medfield's hopes of a higher seed in the state tournament and getting back on track. 

Prediction: If this game was played a few weeks ago, Medfield would have been the no-brainer pick here. But things have changed and it is up to head coach Toby Carlow and his team to figure out what has gone wrong, and get back on track. It won't be easy as Medfield faces off against the top two teams in the TVL in its final two games of the regular season. On Jan. 5, the Warriors defeated the Mustangs, 4-2, but Medfield's recent struggles are cause for concern.

This game will be close, likely one goal deciding the outcome and both teams will be charged up to get a win. The coin flip favored Medway (it landed heads), my gut favors Medfield to get back on track and the devil's advocate of all of this says Medway is playing better than the Warriors down the stretch. I'm listening to my gut, Medfield to right the ship with a close victory tonight. Medfield to win. 

Smith's season prediction record: 45-11


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