Nothing is make-or-break … yet … although if timberlane can finish the South-North Nashua double this week, the Owls take a giant step toward a Class L tourney berth.
For my money, here are the three big games to watch tonight on the local sked:
Masconomet at North Andover, 7 p.m. … First, it’s a giant rivalry game, seond it’s a test of the NA character after the beating absorbed at the hands of Wilmington Tuesday night. With the state tourney pairings due out in a week, are the Knights true contenders or pretenders, awaiting a quick exit? We find out tonight.
Speaking of the hardwood litmus test, Jimmy Zorbas’ Londonderry crew have a Friday night date in the dungeon at Trinity, where fans will be on top of the tiny, little court, whooping it up by the time the JVs hit the layup lines.
Londonderry rides a nine-game win streak. The Pioneers haven’t lost in CLass L since opening night, running off 11 in a row.
Each has lost to Salem.
C’est LaGuerre my friends, as in Trinity sophomore sensation Jordan LaGuerre.
Or will it be the night for Mr. Matt Travalini? (Imagine what Dickie V. would do if he ever got his hands on Travalini. It would be the second coming of Chris Corchiani, baby. Dickie V. loves his paisans.)
And finally, we bring you the typical Friday night gut-check for roller-coaster fanatics, Pinkerton Academy, which faces a Spaulding squad that pushed Salem to the limit.
One key to watch for, a tip from a savvy Pinkerton observer. The Stros are 7-1 when sophomore twin peaks Zach Mathieu and Ben Proulx combine for over 20 points. Pinkerton is 1-7 when the big guys don’t combine for 20. Something tells me this crew needs to work from the inside-out.
the local slate:
Andover at Brockton, 5:30 p.m.; Spaulding at Pinkerton, 7 p.m.; Londonderry at Trinity, 7 p.m.; Nashua North at Timberlane, 7 p.m.; Salem at Manchester Memorial, 7 p.m.; Merrimack Valley at Pelham, 7 p.m.; Sanborn at Newmarket, 7 p.m.; Brimmer and May at Phillips, 4:15 p.m.; Lynnfield at North Reading, 7 p.m.
