Playoff showdowns: Local rivalry adds excitement to snow-postponed postseason
Earl Holland
DelmarvaNow
SALISBURY – It's been six days since the buzzer sounded last for playoff basketball games, and with schools returning to session following another polar vortex, so too will the postseason.
Tonight's schedule consists of 10 high school basketball playoff games featuring Lower Shore teams looking to advance to the next round and potentially playing games on back-to-back nights.
Here are a couple of big games on the docket for tonight:
Parkside (11-10) at Wicomico (15-5), 5:30 p.m.
This will be the third time these Salisbury city rivals meet this season. So far, the Indians have bested the Rams twice by scores of 71-70 and 73-71. Wicomico will have the advantage of playing at home in front of the Indian faithful, but it has been 12 days since they last played a real game.
"Parkside has the benefit since they last played Queen Anne's on Friday, and there's nothing we can do about it," Wi-Hi coach Butch Waller said. "We had some really good practices, and we were really ready to play Monday night. I just hope they remember the game plan."
The Rams, who have been surging since the January return of junior point guard Dajour Diggs, have played the Indians tough, and that's something Parkside coach Dave Byer attributes to the level of familiarity.
"Butch knows our team and we know them, so anything either side does will be no surprise," Byer said. "One of the positives is that we don't have to travel and take a bus, we're just going to meet at the school. We've beaten them over there three years ago, so we think we can win on our floor, we just have to continue playing our best basketball."
As the game also marks the first one for the Indians in almost two weeks, it will be the first in which Waller will have his full array of players since the beginning of the season due to injuries, grades and disciplinary issues. Waller said while having the depth will be great, it'll be about finding the right chemistry.
"I've had to reinvent this team twice, and one of the keys will be working these players back into the rotation without messing up that chemistry," he said. "This game is like a regular-season cross-town rival, but it's just more at stake. One goes on and the other collects uniforms. Whoever wins will have to play three games in a row, but you just have to take it one day at a time."
Washington (11-9)
at Pocomoke (13-8), 6:30 p.m.
The Jaguars and the Warriors have met in the playoffs in each of the last four years with the matchup today, including once in the regional final in 2011. Pocomoke has the edge 2-1, but this season, the two teams have earned wins on the road.
Washington played Friday at home against Cambridge-South Dorchester, taking a 90-50 victory. The hope is that the win can be the start of another run back to the Comcast Center and the Maryland state tournament.
"After that win, we're hoping to ride that momentum," Jaguars coach Nick Purnell said. "I think that if we can do what we did that last game by shooting well, we'll have a chance. Also, we have to be able to come in and match Pocomoke's intensity. If we can do that and play good defense, then there's always that chance."
Pocomoke coach Derrick Fooks said regardless of the weather, his team will be focused and ready to play.
"We can't do anything about Mother Nature," Fooks said. "So if we have to play an NBA schedule with games on consecutive nights, so be it. I think the more time we spend in the gym can be some of the best time. I think when it comes to times like these, it's all about being mentally prepared. If you have a set of seniors who don't want to go home early, I think that you have to mention how a game like this could be their last."
Purnell said one of the things that can make the game a bit tougher is the rabid crowd expected to be on hand tonight. Pairing the crowd with a team looking for revenge from last year's playoff loss to the Jaguars will make this far from an easy waltz.
"They're hungry and that's something fresh on their minds," Purnell said. "The one thing about Pocomoke is that they can be dangerous this time of year. It's an electric atmosphere and when it comes to playoff time, the fans can turn it up to another level. Derrick gets his player to turn things up, and I know my players will be looking for it, too."
eholland@dmg.gannett.com 410-845-4633 Twitter.com @TheEarlHolland
Other playoffs games
MPSSAA 3A South Regional Quarterfinals: Northern (Calvert) at Stephen Decatur, 4 p.m.
MPSSAA 3A South Regional Quarterfinals: Huntingtown at James M. Bennett, 6 p.m.
MPSSAA 1A East Regional Quarterfinals: North Dorchester at Crisfield, 6 p.m.
MPSSAA 1A East Regional Quarterfinals: Crisfield at Mardela, 5:30 p.m.
MPSSAA 1A East Regional Quarterfinals: Snow Hill at Pocomoke, 5 p.m.
MPSSAA 3A South Regional Quarterfinals: Northeast-Anne Arundel at Stephen Decatur, 5:30 p.m.
MPSSAA 2A East Regional Quarterfinals: Wicomico at Queen Anne's, 6 p.m.
MPSSAA 2A East Regional Quarterfinals: Parkside at Kent Island, 6 p.m.
Indians vs. Rams: Wicomico leads season series vs. Parkside 2-0, winning, 71-70 and 73-71. Pictured right,
Parkside's Dajour Diggs drives to the basket against Wi-Hi's Larry Ennis earlier in the season.
Jags vs. Warriors: Teams split during the regular season.
Washington won 88-71 and Pocomoke held on 69-67.