Trio of Warriors Teams in Play Tonight

It is a busy Tuesday for Medfield High School sports fans as three Warriors teams are in action tonight. The boys' basketball team travels to Bellingham in need of a Tri-Valley League win. The girls' hoops team will look to take one step closer to a TVL title when they host Bellingham and the girls' hockey team takes the ice for their third game in four days tonight against Medway/Ashland. Here's a breakdown of each game:

Boys' Basketball: 

Medfield (6-7, 6-7) at  Bellingham (2-13, 2-10)
Bellingham High School, Bellingham, 6:30 p.m.

Bellingham could not have come up on the Warriors schedule at a more crucial time of the season. Medfield, losers of four-straight, desperately needs a Tri-Valley League win to get back to .500 in the standings and regroup as team after a brutal stretch. Bellingham has struggled mightily all season and is a team Medfield not only should beat, but needs to beat. The in Medfield and the game was even more out of reach for Bellingham than the score suggests. Medfield dominated offensively and defensively, playing a complete game and getting its entire team minutes on the court.

That win evened Medfield's record to 3-3 at the time. Now, the Warriors are looking to beat those same Blackhawks to even their record again, this time at 7-7. It has been an up and down season for Medfield as the Warriors opened the season on a three-game losing streak, followed by a six-game winning streak and back down on a four-game slide. 

The schedule has not been much help for MHS as of late as Medfield has squared off against the top teams in the TVL in recent weeks and come up short in each of those meetings. Now, it appears, the schedule is providing a break for the Warriors to get back on track.

Prediction: Medfield is in BIG trouble if it falls to Bellingham tonight. Sure, the Warriors are on the road and on a four-game losing streak. But Medfield, as it showed on Jan. 7, is much more talented and experienced than Bellingham. Look for freshman forward Drew Shea and sophomore guard Johnny McCarthy to have big offensive games and the Warriors to rediscover their winning ways. Medfield to win.

Girls' Basketball: 

Bellingham (1-12, 1-12) at Medfield (14-0, 13-0)
, Medfield, 6:30 p.m.

Warriors head coach Mark Nickerson said his team has an opportunity to wrap-up the Tri-Valley League title this week. If Medway and Holliston continue to win, he said, the Warriors would have to win three games. That's not asking too much for a team that has won 14 straight and has shown in recent games the ability to respond in tight situations and overcome adversity on the court.

First up on the team's quest for a third straight TVL title, is Bellingham. Medfield beat the Blackhawks, 58-19 on Jan. 7 in Bellingham and will look for the series sweep tonight in Medfield. The Warriors use the size they have in forwards Natalie Dickinson and Jen Narlee exceptionally well on offense and defense and consistently get strong play in the front court and on the wings from their guards. At 1-12, Bellingham does not match-up well in any phase of the Warriors' game.

Prediction: Nickerson has done extremely well of keeping his team focused and ready to play every game, no matter the opponent or record. Expect that to remain true tonight as the Warriors know the TVL title is within reach and will look to finish off TVL teams enroute to that third straight league championship. Medfield gets one win closer with a big win over Bellingham tonight. Warriors to win.

Girls' Hockey: 

Medfield (12-0-2, 10-0-2) at Medway/Ashland (8-2-1)
Veteran's Arena, Franklin, 6 p.m.

This has the makings to be an entertaining hockey game as the Independent Medway/Ashland team takes on the Southeastern North division leading Warriors at Veteran's Arena tonight.

The Warriors beat King Philip Monday, 3-2 to remain unbeaten and pick-up two more points in league play. Junior Kara Pelosi netted two goals and sophomore Lindsay Gursha scored her first career goal to lead Medfield. 

Medway/Ashland is most recently coming off a 3-2 loss to Dover-Sherborn this past Saturday. Medfield and Medway/Ashland opened the season against each other on Dec. 11 and the Warriors came away with a 3-2 victory, one of only two losses dealt to Medway/Ashland all season.

Both teams have put up similar numbers on offense and defense. Medfield has scored 44 goals this season while giving up just 19. Medway/Ashland has scored 40 goals while giving up 20. 

Prediction: Expect another close, one-goal game full of exciting moments and end-to-end action. Both of these teams match-up well with one another and it will be interesting to see how Medfield responds to playing a tough team after picking up wins against lesser opponents. This one will be good and can go either way, but got to give the advantage to the unbeaten team, Warriors to win. 

Smith's season prediction record: 38-8.