Sports
5 Things: Hopatcong Wants Playoff Victory
What you need to know about the boys basketball team hosting Westwood in the North 1, Group 2 first round Tuesday night.
- You Need to Know the Background: No. 8 (13-12) will host No. 9 Westwood (13-12) in the North 1, Group 2 first round at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The winner will take on the victor of No. 1 Pascack Hills vs. No. 16 Ramsey.
- You Need to Know the Chiefs are Rolling: After a tough 1-4 start, Hopatcong has gone 12-8. "We've turned things around," head coach Jim Tobin said Monday. Tobin can thank senior forward Hunter Guard, who's averaged 16 points per game this season, and a strong supporting cast. Guard, who in the fall, needs less than 50 points to reach 900 for his career.
- You Need to Know How the Teams Stack Up: The matchup could favor Hopatcong, a team used to playing against larger squads all year. Westwood isn't a particularly tall team, Tobin said.
- You Need to Know About Hopatcong's Improved 'D': The Chiefs have used mostly man-to-man defense this season, and they've gotten better over time despite sprinkling in some zone looks. Tobin said he hopes Hopatcong can control the glass and keep Westwood players in front of them.
- You Need to Know the X-Factor: "We don't have to travel 55 minutes," Tobin said. "That's the nice thing. It should be a very competitive game and either team could win."
- BONUS:
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