T.C. Williams-Yorktown Preview

A win on Wednesday against Yorktown in the Northern Region quarterfinals puts the T.C. Williams boys basketball team just one game away from a berth in the AAA state playoffs. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. at The Garden.

Here's a closer look at the matchup:

The Patriots will win if… They find their stroke from behind the arc, and find it early. Yorktown is going to struggle with T.C. Williams' athleticism, just like anyone else in the region would. If the Patriots are going to match the Titans, they’ll have to shoot it well from outside. That means Jack Earley and Daniel Pietropaoli will have to be on from the opening tip. If they can extend the Titans’ defense, leading scorer Nicko Esherick will have more room to operate, which should lead to drive-and-kick opportunities. Make no mistake, T.C. Williams is the favorite to win the region, but Yorktown matches up with them well.

The Titans will win if… They let their athleticism take over. No team in the region can matchup athletically with the Titans, especially forward Jamal Pullen and guard Tyrell Sitton. The two form one of the region’s strongest inside-outside duos. If they can turn up the defensive pressure on Yorktown, they could turn the game into a track meet—exactly the type of game the Patriots want to avoid. Coach Julian King was not happy with his team’s performance in their first-round win over Oakton, despite winning by 20 points. The Titans completely shut down the Cougar offense, but struggled from the floor, something they can’t afford to do against a much better Yorktown team.

The verdict… Yorktown deserves a better fate, but they have to play the next team on the schedule, and unfortunately for the Patriots, the Titans are lurking. The game will be closer than many expect, but T.C. Williams has too much for Yorktown to handle.