Northwest Catholic, the No. 4 team in the NH Register Top 10 preseason poll, beat No. 6 Wilbur Cross 52-38 in the Doc Hurley Classic Saturday at Weaver High.
Cross (2-1) scored just 17 points in the second half, showing the affects of having played Friday night, a win at Hamden. Still, the Governors got exposed against a better team.
When it comes time for the state tournament, teams have to value the basketball, to make good on almost every possession. Cross committed way too many turnovers and struggled in the rebounding department. Northwest did a better job in the half-court set.
The matchup between the two best players, Kuran Iverson from N-West and Gerald McClease of Cross, was almost a draw (Iverson unofficially had 19 points, McClease 16).
Cross faces Hillhouse on Tuesday and at Westhill on Dec. 27 in Westhill's Christmas tournament. The Govs will need to be better in both categories (less turnovers, better rebounding) to win either of those two games.
The Govs can make some of the same mistakes they made on Saturday and get away with it against most of their SCC opponents, but when it gets to the state tournament, they won't. Not in Class LL.