This Tuesday night is the biggest game for the Acton Boxborough Colonials. The team’s opponent is rival Westford Academy.
Simply put, if AB wins the game, AB wins the Dual County League Large Title. If AB loses, Westford wins the DCL Large Title.
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Keys to the Game:
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- Rebounding
Westford’s front court of Nick Lynch, Eric McCord, and Justin Mount are all legitimate forwards whose average height is around six feet two inches. It will be important for the Colonials to make sure to box out every possession and limit second chance opportunities for the Grey Ghosts.
2. Turnovers
Against Westford the first time, the Colonials had three turnovers within the first two minutes of play. This kind of play certainly will not help the team. Making smart passes and taking care of the ball in general is a huge key for this AB Squad.
3. Breaking the Zone
Westford will come out and play a zone. AB needs to move the ball well, look to break the zone by attacking the middle. Last game against Westford, the team early on settled for a lot of outside shots early. The team should look to be more aggressive.
4. Transition Hoops
This is where AB is at its best: on the move, when the opposing defense isn’t set. The one thing that the Colonials did well against the Grey Ghosts in the first meeting was to force steals and go out in transition. Transition allows for easy layups and trailing three pointers.
5.Press
In the two team’s last meeting, AB tried using the press early on and it proved to be ineffective. The team definitely should look at using the press to wear down Westford’s guards and not allow them to create an offensive flow.
6. Three Pointers
Led by Ryan Graziano and Reid Larsen, the Colonials have done well in shooting the three pointer. Look for the team to capitalize on any open shooting opportunities beyond the arc.
Crowd Factor:
Although an away game, the atmosphere tomorrow will certainly feel like a home game with a huge crowd and many Colonial crazies coming to the game. That support should really lift the AB team’s spirit in the face of any adversity.
Outlook:
AB had the last game between the two teams down to a three point game. So, certainly the team has the ability to play well. If the team limits its turnovers and can grab defensive rebounds, I see this game going in AB’s favors.
