Contributed Article
While all games are certainly important for determining league standings and qualifying for playoff berths, tonight’s Boys TVL Basketball slate has taken on added meaning. Both Norton and Holliston have jumped out to 2-0 starts in TVL Large, while perennial powers Hopkinton (Large) and Medway (Small) are seeking their first wins in their third games of the year.
The game of the night features 1-1 Westwood at Hopkinton. The Wolverines dispatched Medfield on Tuesday after losing a tough opener to Norton. Hopkinton, which must be the youngest team in the TVL with a roster comprised of more sophomores (4) than seniors (3), lost an overtime thriller to Holliston on opening night, then got outscored by 10 in the 4th quarter at Norton to lose 57-45. Hopkinton needs a homecourt win to drift back toward the top of the standings.
Norton hosts Seekonk in an out-of-league tilt, while Holliston hosts Medfield. The Panthers count on the experience of five senior starters, while Medfield hopes to give Holliston its first loss to pull them back to the rest of the Large.
All six teams in TVL Small face each other tonight, with three teams that won Tuesday night facing desperate opponents who all lost. Dover Sherborn, which scored 17 straight points across the third and fourth quarters to pull ahead of Millis, hosts Medway. The Mustangs led Ashland for most of the night before trailing by 53-44 at the final horn. Ashland, which many think is the class of Small, tips off against Dedham, in what might be the Small game of the night. TVL first timer Dedham is big, savvy, and experienced, and they’ll be looking to lick their wounds at the Clocker gym. And in the final TVL contest of the night Bellingham hosts Millis. The Blackhawks rebounded from a resounding loss to Coyle & Cassidy with a gritty season-altering win over Dedham. Millis, which watched DS score two touchdowns and a field goal unanswered on Tuesday, expects to finally pack away their Super Bowl trophy and return to their strengths on the basketball court.
It’ll be a treat for all of us if this topsy turvy competitve league can remain this intriguing through February. It’s already beginning to feel a lot like Spring ’17 TVL baseball!
