Championship Monday: Southern vs Old Bridge Preview
It has all come down to this! Old Bridge and Southern vying to be crowned the champion of champions this evening in the State Final. So to celebrate this tremendous matchup of two squads in the Prep Dig Top 10…
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Continue ReadingIt has all come down to this! Old Bridge and Southern vying to be crowned the champion of champions this evening in the State Final. So to celebrate this tremendous matchup of two squads in the Prep Dig Top 10 (Southern No. 3 & Old Bridge No. 4), let’s give a full breakdown of this match with a prediction.
State Titles
Old Bridge: 2018, 2019
Southern: 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017
Head-to-Head
These two giants clashed back in early May at Old Bridge. Old Bridge fell behind early but still rallied to win the first set. Southern bounced back in a big way and rallied to take the final two sets in a 21-25, 26-24, 25-21 thriller. If the championship is anything like their matchup earlier this year, we are in for a treat. Tommy Deakyne led the way 19 kills while Brian Snook had 16.
How They Got Here
Old Bridge cruised through the Central section and then met up with Christian Brothers who had just defeated them. They played one of the greatest first sets ever with a 70 point set. The Knights got through that revenge matchup and then cruised against St. Peter’s Prep.
Southern had not faced any real adversity in the postseason until they ran into Fair Lawn in the semifinals. It took everything they had as they had slow starts in all three sets but were able to overcome it in the final two frames.
Old Bridge Wins If…
Spread the ball offensively. Old Bridge is at their best when Nick Schon has the ability to go anywhere with the ball. If he is able to get everyone involved early, it means trouble for Southern because they will have no chance but to guess where the ball is going.
Defensively, the team needs to make someone other than Tommy Deakyne beat them. You need to pinpoint where he is on the court at all times and try to limit his opportunities to be effective.
Southern Wins If…
Tommy Deakyne needs to be special. Deakyne is the thoroughbred for the Southern attack. He can punish you from anywhere on the court. He had a monster performance in the matchup earlier this year. He will need to at worst match-it.
Defensively, the team needs to play straight-up. Old Bridge likes to spread the ball around so the back row cannot start cheating for a cross-court or down the line shot.
Prediction
Southern over Old Bridge in Three Sets
It was Old Bridge who ended Southern’s chances of having a three-peat in 2018. I think this is an opportunity for a little payback. Old Bridge will come up just short this season.