D10: Tuesday Quarterfinals (Jr & Sr)

Today's D10 action should help sort out (slightly) the CWOSSA situation.

Let's start with the junior side:

#1 Bishop Mac (14-0) vs. #8 Orangeville (0-14)
Regular Season Series: Bishop Mac 2-0 (Won 74-30 & 81-10).

Unless there is some sort of food contamination at the BMac cafeteria today that affects Bishop Mac's top 9 players, they will roll in this one. That said, I look for the bench to get their fair share of minutes to get ready for their upcoming playoff games.

Pick: Bishop Mac (by 47).

#2 Lourdes (12-2) vs. #7 Centre Wellington (3-11)
Regular Season Series: Lourdes 2-0 (Won 64-51 & 47-36).

Not exactly the scores you might expect from a 2/7 matchup, but the truth of the matter is that the Falcons have kept things relatively respectable against the teams above them in the standings.

That said, "keeping it respectable" does not equate with winning. Lourdes to move on here.

Pick: Lourdes (by 21).

#3 Centennial (8-6) vs. #6 Guelph CVI (4-10).
Regular Season Series: Centennial 2-0 (Won 59-40 & 49-47).

This matchup comes with (in all likelihood) a CWOSSA "AAAA" berth as well. It was a close one the last time out, but the Spartans are playing well right now. I like them to advance here.

Pick: Centennial (by 11).

#4 St. James (8-6) vs. #5 JF Ross (7-7)
Regular Season Series: 1-1 (STJ won 58-48, JF Ross won 43-37).

I just haven't been that impressed with St. James lately. An ugly 32-25 win over CW, then a loss to CCVI to close the year. On the flip side, JF Ross has been playing well down the stretch. The Royals have been inconsistent at times (losing to GCVI in early January).......so we'll see who comes to play today!

Pick: JF Ross (by 6).

And now, the senior quarterfinals.....

The senior D10 season has been quite interesting. The teams towards the bottom of the standings have generally remained competitive (at times) with some of the top squads. Will this translate into an upset or two in the quarterfinals? I don't necessarily think so, but that's why they play the games. Here's the breakdown:

#1 Centennial (14-0) vs. #8 Orangeville (0-14)
Season Series: CCVI 2-0 (Won 56-52 & 71-53)

The Spartans got a scare from the ODSS Bears early in the year, but in the friendly confines of the CCVI gym on College Avenue the Spartans should win by double digits.

Pick: CCVI (by 19).

#2 St. James (10-4) vs. #7 Bishop Mac (2-12)
Season Series: STJ 2-0 (Won 63-51 & 55-43)

It takes time to translate junior success to senior success ---- usually doesn't happen overnight. Such is the case at Bishop Mac, where last year's junior D10 champs have struggled at the senior level. Of course, Connor Wood attending the REDA academy didn't help anything either. The Celts' season ends tonight.

Pick: St. James (by 17).

#3 JF Ross (10-4) vs. #6 GCVI (6-8)
Season Series: JFR 2-0 (Won 71-56 & 80-52)

The Gaels will need to play some defense if they hope to advance here ---- they gave up 75.5 PPG to the Royals this year in their two meetings. Ross seems to be peaking at the right time and I look for them to avoid the upset at home.

Pick: JF Ross (by 14).

#4 Centre Wellington (7-7) vs. #5 Lourdes (7-7)
Season Series: 1-1 (CW won 83-71, OLOL won 71-65)

A very intriguing matchup here. Both teams are relatively young, and might even challenge for a title in the next year or two. I'm going to take the visiting Crusaders based upon their offensive firepower.

Pick: Lourdes (by 7).