BVBL Finals Preview

On Sunday August 23 The BVBL will conclude it's 8th season of play with only the second title game rematch in league history. The first coming in 2012 and 2013 when BOHICA and The Wet Bandits met in the finals (BOHICA winning in 12, Bandits in 13)

This year's match up is sure to be an intriguing one as the teams contrasting styles should factor in heavily.

The Path Traveled:

Youngbloodz: The Youngbloodz finished 3-4 in the regular season- their first in the North Division. They however posted playoff victories over Sutton TBA, Leftover Lasagna and The Birdmen to fight their way back to the finals. 

BOHICA: BOHICA had a perfect 7-0 regular season record and playoff victories over Cold Blooded, The Wet Bandits and Not Your Average Movers to return to the finals for the 5th year in a row and the 7th time in 8 years. 

Tale of the Tape:

Youngbloodz Projected Starters:

Connor Costello 6'5 F Hobart product (First Team All Defense BVBL North)

Ian Converse 6'5 W  Plays at WPI (2nd team All BVBL North)

Jeremy Bacon 6'3 W Woo State/Hopedale product one of the most athletic players in league

Mark Devries 5'10 G  Former Uxbridge  standout. One of the league's premier clutch shooters

Dan Main 6-3 G Former Wheelock star made his return to the league in a big way (First team all league) 

Projected Reserves:

Derek Moore 6-3 F  Worcester State Football Player, Physical mainstay in the interior high energy guy

Ryan Mellone 6-3 W Late season addition due to injuries, energy/effort guy

Injured

Evan Lerner  6-5 W One of the toughest matchups in the league this Clark U player suffered an injury in the final days of the regular season. 

BOHICA Projected Starters:

Zach Valliere 6-11 C Former Fitchburg State standpoint controls the boards for BOHICA

Joe McCann 6-4 F BVBL Hall of Famer (First Ballot)

Sam Longwell 6-4 W WPI Standout, First team All BVBL North 

Ryan Cain 6-1 G Former WPI Standout and recently minted Keene State Coach, BVBL Legend

Ryan Flynn 6-0 G Former WPI guard and current assistant coach, first team all Defense

Projected Reserves:

Ryan Sheehan 6-3 W BVBL North MVP for 2015, 2000 point scorer Nichols College

Derek Retos 5-9 G One of the most dangerous marksmen in the BVBL. Brandeis graduate.

Chris Burton 6-5 W 1000 point scorer at RIC, MVP of the 2014 finals. 

Eddie Capstick 6-3 G Recent Wheaton Graduate, decorated BVBL vet. 

Mikey Palumbo 5-8 G Crunch time performer, RIC graduate. 

Anthony Leonelli 6-1 G 8 Year BVBL Vet, mostly relegated to a coaching role. 

Youngbloodz By The Numbers:

Week 1: Not Your Average Movers L 74-71

Week 2: Wet Bandits W 64-47 

Week 3: Airport Video W (OT) 90-84

Week 4: Leftover Lasagna L 70-64

Week 5: Whitewater L 85-79

Week 6: BOHICA L 73-67

Week 7: 508 Athletics W 76-56

Round of 16: Sutton TBA W 55-45

Quarters: Leftover Lasagna W 58-53

Semis: Birdmen W 55-51 

Average Points For: 67.9

Average Points Against: 63.5

Average Margin: +4.4 PPG

Best Win: Quarters vs Leftover Lasagna

Worst Loss: Week 5 vs Whitewater

BOHICA By The Numbers:

Week 1: 508 Athletics W 69-47

Week 2: Airport Video W 86-74

Week 3: Not Your Average Movers W 78-57    

Week 4: Whitewater W 87-66

Week 5: Wet Bandits W 107-63

Week 6: Youngbloodz W 73-67

Week 7: Leftover Lasagna W 78-50

Round of 16: Cold Blooded W 69-53

Quarters: Wet Bandits W 48-38

Semis: Not Your Average Movers W 81-75

Average Points For: 77.6 PPG

Average Points Against: 59.0 PPG

Average Margin: +18.6 PPG

Best Win: Week 7 vs Leftover

Worst Loss: None

Previous Meeting July 19th 2015:

BOHICA 73, Youngbloodz 67
A shorthanded BOHICA got hot in the second half as Ryan Sheehan (28 points) and Sam Longwell (24 points) coupled to lead the offensive charge. On the defensive end the play of Ryan Flynn helped corral the Youngbloodz offense. Youngbloodz got their scoring from Ian Converse with 14, Dan Main with 13 and Jeremy Bacon with 13.

The teams also met in last year's final:  http://blackstonevalleybasketballleague.blogspot.com/2014/08/champions-crowned.html

Whats New?

Since last season the Youngbloodz have added Dan Main who played in the early years of the BVBL but came back in a big way this year with 18.3 points per game and a first team all league selection

The biggest change is the Youngbloodz played this season in the much more competitive North Division after dominating the South last year. 

BOHICA added Sam Longwell who earned first team all league honors while scoring 19.8 PPG, and got the full time services of Zach Valliere who did not get enough games to playoff eligible in 2014. 

Around The League. 

A Polling of league captains produced the following takes on the final:

"BOHICA back to back by 11" -Unnamed North Captain

"Youngbloodz get revenge from last year 65-60" -Unnamed North Captain

"Youngbloodz 68-65 BOHICA has a tough shooting game YB control the boards...Costello and Devries have big games" -Unnamed North Captain

"Backcourt play of BOHICA will be too strong. 67-53" -Unnamed South Captain

"BOHICA 73-58...they hit threes and win games, simple as that." -Unnamed North Captain

"BOHICA...too much talent and size at each position. YB won't be able to shoot with them. 75-60" -Unnamed South Captain

"BOHICA 75-62...Youngbloodz keep it close but too much talent for BOHICA at the end" -Unnamed North Captain 

Photos by Russ Boisvert