D10: Semifinal Tuesday

Back to playoff action today in the D10 league, with the Junior & Senior semifinals set to go.

There were no upsets in the quarterfinals, as the top 4 seeds advanced through in both leagues, with relative ease -- all were double-digit wins.

Here's today's lineup:

Senior
(1) St. James vs. (4) CWDHS
RS:  STJ 2-0 (63-45, 54-37)
The Lions controlled both of their regular season meetings, and are certainly the favourites in this one, although the veteran-laden squad that CW has certainly doesn't want to play their last high school game today, and could keep it interesting.

Also of note, this game will be an "AAA" CWOSSA qualifier with the winner getting the bid.

My pick:  STJ by 13

(2) Bishop Mac vs. (3) JF Ross
RS:  1-1 (50-35 BM, 58-43 Ross)
By the margin of a single point, the Celtics held on to a 15-point defeat at JF Ross the other week to ensure they would maintain 2nd place in the standings and a home semifinal game.  Personally, I think both of these teams are no more than single digits apart, despite both regular season games being double-digit wins (one by each time).  I have a feeling today will be a close one, but will stick with the homecourt Celts here.

My Pick:  BMAC by 4 

Junior
(1) Centennial vs. (4) CWDHS
RS:  CCVI 2-0 (59-47, 45-26)
The Spartans won both of the regular-season games between these clubs, although CW has been playing arguably the best basketball in the D10 league over the past couple of weeks (including tournaments).  Cole Newton's been putting up some big numbers in particular, so the Spartans will need to hold them to more "respectable numbers" like they did during the regular season (10 & 13 points) to ensure success.

My Pick:  CCVI by 12

(2) St. James vs. (3) GCVI
RS:  GCVI 2-0 (75-64, 54-33)
Interesting in that the 3rd-seeded Gaels won both of the regular season meetings, and by double-digits at that.  Of course, the Lions were the only team to knock off Centennial, while the Gaels battled some inconsistency with losses to a couple of teams in the bottom half of the standings (ODSS & JFR).

I guess if there's a time to take the underdog, this is it.  Of note is that the winner may also qualify for AAA CWOSSA, should CCVI defeat CW in the other game.

My Pick:  GCVI by 5