Boys' Basketball District Final Previews

No. 2 Sherando (11-11) vs. No. 5 James Wood (6-17)

February 18, 2011

By David Selig       

An upset isn't out of the question if James Wood plays as well as it has in tournament victories over Skyline and Millbrook.

But Sherando was a tough matchup for the Colonels during the regular season. The Warriors won 74-60 and 56-53, and the three-point game only ended up close after a futile rally late in the fourth quarter.

Wood could afford to be aggressive in trapping Millbrook's guards beyond the arc Wednesday , because the Pioneers don't have any dominant post scorers. But Sherando will punish the Colonels in the paint if they're too aggressive on the perimeter and leave the lane open.

Along those lines, 6-foot-7 senior Mason Smith needs to stay on the floor to give his team a chance to defend the likes of Terry Wood (6-8) and company.

Smith had just one foul in the first half Wednesday, but he quickly got in foul trouble in the second half, which typically makes things tougher for the Colonels.

There are plenty of talented guards in this game, too, but don't be surprised if it's won or lost in the paint.

Sherando erased a 12-point halftime deficit to defeat James Wood 64-61 in last year's district final played on The Ridge.