CBA vs. Gloucester Catholic
CORRECTION: I originally posted that the CBA game was at 2 p.m., but it is actually at 5 p.m. Sorry for any confusion.
Thursday's only game get's its own post. CBA goes for its 12th Parochial/Non-Public championship game appearance, this time against Gloucester Catholic. The Colts have always raised their level of play for this tournament and it has especially shown this year. Eight of the Colts 11 pre-state tournament wins were by a one-goal margin, but in two state games, CBA has 4-1 and 2-0 wins. That doesn't mean much in the champinoship, but it does show that the Colts have tightened up their play in the back and they've been able to finish. It also doesn't hurt that they play an A North schedule to toughen them up for postseason play.
I like CBA in this game. I worried about them against Augustine on Tuesday, but they played about as clean a game as you could play. Now their playing a team with speed up top that likes to play kick-and-run to get the ball to its speed. That's not typically how you beat CBA's possession game, but it was good enough to beat Monsignor Donovan. Based on styles, CBA will have an edge, but it only takes a mistake or two to give up a quick one. Based on the last couple of games, those mistakes have not been happening, so if CBA continues that kind of play, they should be okay.
To me this game is all about protecting the goal for CBA, and the key word is patience. If the game is scoreless into the final 20 minutes, CBA will be fine as long as they don't leave themselves exposed in the back. If they have to push up at any point, they are usually in decent shape because they can possess the ball. But Gloucester Catholic will be waiting on those mistakes, and as they showed against Donovan, they can capitalize.
This CBA team might be a little stronger in skill than it was last year, but it lacks a certain degree of physicality that kept them in the championship game against Pingry. I see them getting into the finals, but like in just about every other sport, North Jersey reigns supreme. It's going to take a great effort from the Colts to pull out a Non Public title Tuesday, and it starts Thursday evening. Step one should be a successful one.
The Pick: CBA 2-1.
Thursday's only game get's its own post. CBA goes for its 12th Parochial/Non-Public championship game appearance, this time against Gloucester Catholic. The Colts have always raised their level of play for this tournament and it has especially shown this year. Eight of the Colts 11 pre-state tournament wins were by a one-goal margin, but in two state games, CBA has 4-1 and 2-0 wins. That doesn't mean much in the champinoship, but it does show that the Colts have tightened up their play in the back and they've been able to finish. It also doesn't hurt that they play an A North schedule to toughen them up for postseason play.
I like CBA in this game. I worried about them against Augustine on Tuesday, but they played about as clean a game as you could play. Now their playing a team with speed up top that likes to play kick-and-run to get the ball to its speed. That's not typically how you beat CBA's possession game, but it was good enough to beat Monsignor Donovan. Based on styles, CBA will have an edge, but it only takes a mistake or two to give up a quick one. Based on the last couple of games, those mistakes have not been happening, so if CBA continues that kind of play, they should be okay.
To me this game is all about protecting the goal for CBA, and the key word is patience. If the game is scoreless into the final 20 minutes, CBA will be fine as long as they don't leave themselves exposed in the back. If they have to push up at any point, they are usually in decent shape because they can possess the ball. But Gloucester Catholic will be waiting on those mistakes, and as they showed against Donovan, they can capitalize.
This CBA team might be a little stronger in skill than it was last year, but it lacks a certain degree of physicality that kept them in the championship game against Pingry. I see them getting into the finals, but like in just about every other sport, North Jersey reigns supreme. It's going to take a great effort from the Colts to pull out a Non Public title Tuesday, and it starts Thursday evening. Step one should be a successful one.
The Pick: CBA 2-1.
posted by Matt Manley at 11:18 PM
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