Sports

Medfield Girls' Basketball Can Clinch TVL Tonight

Warriors capture third straight Tri-Valley League Title with win in Ashland tonight; Boys' basketball hosts Clockers.

Tonight has potential to be a big night for the Medfield High School girls' basketball team as the Warriors have a chance to win their third consecutive Tri-Valley League title with a victory over Ashland. Meanwhile, the boys' basketball team will take the court tonight, looking to get back above .500 in the standings when they host the Clockers at 6:30 p.m. in the MHS gym.

Girls' Basketball:

Medfield (15-1, 14-0) at Ashland (13-5, 12-4)
Ashland High School, Ashland, 6:30 p.m. 

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Tonight could be the night for the Warriors, but they will have to do it on the road against second-place Ashland, winners of seven straight. Over the past week and a half, the Warriors have gone up against the league's elite in Medway and Hopkinton and have beat both, now it is time to face another emerging TVL power on the road in Ashland. First place in the TVL has belonged to Medfield all season as the Warriors have turned in a 14-0 league record and defeated Ashland, 47-32 on Jan. 11 in Medfield. 

As the season as worn on, and teams around the league have improved, the Warriors' margin of victories have shrunk. Medfield has shown it can blow teams out when firing on all cylinders, can come back in games it is trailing and hold on for close victories. 

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However, one cause for concern for Medfield coach Mark Nickerson heading into tonight, is not knowing how his team will respond from suffering their first loss of the season Thursday, 60-58 against Fontbonne in Medfield. 

 "It was a tough loss," Nickerson said. "We were up most of the game.  Our interior defense, which has been the key to our success so far this year, was an issue [Thursday]. We had a lot of trouble keeping them out of the paint, both off entry passes to the post and penetration from the perimeter."

Nickerson said Fontbonne was able to expose a weakness no other team has been able to this season, rebounding, but the team must move on from that defeat quickly and focus on tonight's game. 

"This was a tough loss but we need to move on quickly," said Nickerson. 

Prediction: The possibility of a let-down game following a team's first loss of the season is always something to consider, but as suggested in Wednesday's Warriors Game Day, Medfield could have simply been overlooking Fontbonne in preparation for tonight's game with Ashland. This game against the Clockers is the game Medfield has been playing for all season, up to this point at least, and one of the goals it set as a team before the season started was to three-peat as TVL champions. 

All that stands in the Warriors way of achieving that goal is the 12-4 Clockers, winners of seven straight. The key to this game is not what happened Thursday and not what can be predetermined by past games or team records. The key is the Warriors ability to play their style of basketball: smothering defense and an offense that revolves around its talented forwards to score in the paint. 

Ashland will be a challenger looking to delay Medfield's TVL celebration and force the Warriors out of their game plan. But Medfield is used to having the bullseye on its back from being the only unbeaten team in the league and it has responded to those challenges put forth by other teams, including Ashland last month. Look for the Warriors to refocus after their first loss Thursday and come out ready to win the TVL. Medfield to win a close one

Boys' Basketball:

Ashland (4-10, 4-9) at Medfield (7-7, 7-7)
, Medfield, 6:30 p.m. 

Similar to the case Tuesday, Medfield – in desperate need of wins – has a golden opportunity for one against a lowly opponent in the Tri-Valley League. 

Fresh off a 65-43 victory over Bellingham, the Warriors turn their attention to getting back above .500 in the standings as they host the Clockers tonight. Ashland has struggled throughout the year and lost to Medfield, 48-29 on Jan. 11. 

Prediction: Medfield is home against a lesser opponent. The TVL is a tough league, however, and anything is possible – so Ashland cannot be taken too lightly. But the skills of Drew Shea, Johnny McCarthy and Sam Tawa are simply too much for the Clockers to handle. Medfield to win and improve to 8-7. 

Smith's season prediction record: 41-11


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