Division one semi finals.

BG has first game.

Guess when their senior class trip is ?

Yep. Just like 2 years ago. Same day as the game. OUCH.

BG - SPAULDING. Boykins being healthy makes BG such a different team. This game will be closer then people think. Much closer.

I vaguely recall that there is a "stay behind" option, where the students spend the day in the library writing a paper.

GNG wrote: BG - SPAULDING. Boykins being healthy makes BG such a different team. This game will be closer then people think. Much closer.

I don't think this game could be any closer. Wouldn't be surprised if it came down to the final possession.

With Trinity in that means 3 out of the top 4 seeds advnce to UNH.

Trinity - South will be a GREAT GAME.

Benched.

I have been impressed with this guy Fennel all sesaon. He reminds me of John Habib who I always love to read.

So that begs the question, how will Boykins absence change the game plan for both BG and Trinity?

BG vs Spaulding - the BG team has something to prove. They lost to Spaulding in the regular season and also if they're anything like I think they are, they will rally together to get a win in the midst of adversity.

South vs Trinity - the South team has Dunham coming alive in the playoffs. If Dunham and the Prestons are working together, I think Trinity is beatable.

Wouldn't it be interesting to have two Nashua teams in the finals. Let's just hope for great games! Good luck to all the teams in Durham tonight! Gotta love playoff basketball

The key term is "will be benched tonight" for the BG player in question.

So, if BG upsets Spaulding tonight........ You know where I'm heading with this.......Status for Saturday at 3:00 pm??

One game at a time T&F. The pot is sufficiently stirred .

Nobody has answered my question yet...who has to step up for BG? How will they win this game down one of their key players?

When you're a writer... You like to dot the Is and cross the Ts completely

BG has to have another huge game from Gavin. He had 15 I believe against Central last Friday. He has a tough makeup and one that will suit him for the atmosphere the BG players will be experiencing tonight. Without Boykins, another guard will have to come up big in the scoring column like Toscano, Zimmerman etc. Just as important, these guards, not named Boykin, will have to take care of the ball against the Red Raiders. I saw BG against South when they didn't have Boykin. The way they handled the South defense wasn't pretty. The game was over early. More than anything the BG backcourt players will have to be very good mentally early and then let the physical meet up with the mental later on.

I can't tell you how pleased I am to see South playing Trinity in the other semi. It is THE matchup I wanted to see when the tournament bracket was announced. You have arguably 4 of the top 10 players in D1 playing in this game and another player or two who aren't far behind the Top 10. There is not much between these two teams. They played an OT thriller earlier in the regular season at South. I'm expecting nothing less from 7:30 to 9:00 pm at Lundholm. Some coaches say Dunham will have his hands full with Carmen G. On the other side of the court I think the Trinity guards will have their hands full with Tim Preston. Between Mabor and Jack P, who ever picks up their 2nd or 4th foul and at what stage of the game will bear watching. Mental decisions in the paint between these 2 will be the key. Staying disciplined on head fakes and not trying to block every shot could be important in context to picking up a 2nd foul/3rd foul in the first half and 4th foul in the 2nd half.

I did not take the ride. Instead I sit here thinking...

Without Boykin's performance against Central, we would be writing about a deadly shooter McGregor and 1000 point scorer Paradis vs. POY Pellitier. Not so, now, because of Boykin's career game.

If Spaulding has a weakness it is at guard play. Therefore, the loss of this key piece in Coach Mignault's game plan will, on paper, benefit Spaulding. Jimmy shortened his bench a bit vs, Central. He may need them tonight.

I've seen, however, teams galvannize after a loss of a key player, and it wouldn't surprise me to see a BG team come out focused and on fire. They are smart enough to know that defense wins championships. BG will take the 1st half lead on the energy of their defense, an unsung player like John Noon dropping a couple of 3-balls, and Lunn banging away inside. Can that energy withstand a huge Spaulding 2nd half push? That's the key. I will take Spaulding with a huge 2nd half.

Who can alter this outcome? I think it will have to be Lunn. Foul trouble and Central's Kelly had a lot to do with his 12 point 3 rebound performance on Friday. But thanks to Boykins, they live to play again. Lunn needs to be the guy. Enjoy.

Spaulding leads BG at the half, 37-24.

What time was tip off?

6:00. The 2nd game is at 7:30.

Catch the end of the game here:

http://www.am1270wtsn.com/

Click on "listen live" and a new window will open.

Currently 40-31 Spaulding 4:25 in 3rd

End of 3......40-39 Spaulding. 8 minutes to go.............

BG with a big run in the 3rd. Spaulding 40-39 end of 3.

Well I got that wrong. Spaulding with a big 2nd quarter.

Currently tied 4:22 in 4th

51-47 Spaulding w/ 3:26 left

Paradis just fouled out. According to Justin there have been 3 questionable fouls called against the Spaulding senior. "Absolute garbage" foul calls according to Justin.

51-50 Spaulding 3 minutes to go. Paradis fouls out.

Justin says Lunn is getting the Kobe Bryant treatment in the 2nd half (no fouls called).

"My buddy T&F from the forum" gets a shout-out from Justin!