By Michael Letendre
Due to COVID-19 protocols, the Bristol Central boys basketball team will only have one game this week as Bristol Eastern won’t be playing (again) this Thursday.
And the Rams will have a little revenge on their minds as Plainville comes to town for a Region B showdown.
Central has yet to be defeated this year but the Blue Devils gave the squad one of its toughest tests to date in the first showdown between the schools.
Here’s what to look for when Central and Plainville clash in Bristol on Monday:
Boys Basketball
Plainville (1-6) at Bristol Central (8-0)
Time – 5:30 p.m.
Location – Charles C. Marsh Gymnasium, Bristol Central high school
The Blue Devils gummed up the works against the Rams on Saturday, February 27 but Central still defeated Plainville, 64-61, from the Ivan Wood Gymnasium.
But from the friendly confines of the Charles C. Marsh Gymnasium in Bristol, the Rams are looking to post a big number against the Blue Devils in the rematch.
And the only thing Central center Donovan Clingan hasn’t done this season is hit a 3-pointer.
Will that first long range bomb finally come against Plainville?
Because, frankly, what hasn’t Clingan already accomplished this season?
He continues to be a double-figure scorer/rebounder – cashing in on 24.6 points-per-game – and he’s just three points away from notching his 200th point of the shortened campaign.
So if Plainville is going to crowd the Central center, with double and triple teams, this is a game where the rest of the squad can do damage offensively by connecting from deep.
Damion Glasper (9.1 ppg) is looking for his 10th three-pointer of the year while Sean Wininger (8.8 ppg) is just a tick behind in the scoring department.
Carson Rivoira (7.5 ppg) has been a pleasant surprise in the scoring department while doing so many other little things outside of putting points on the board.
He’s capable of scoring 10-plus points while Victor Rosa (4.0 ppg) continues to bring the defense to the hardwood.
And don’t forget the scoring capabilities of Eli Rodriguez (3.4 ppg) who plastered New Britain for 17 points earlier in the campaign.
D’Ante Ross and Piotr Nizleski may also slip in a 3 along the way while Tre Jones is another option that could help slow down those fast guards from Plainville.
The Blue Devils have different scoring options and the squad loves to bomb from deep.
The backcourt of Ty Johnson and Omar Miller are volume shooters that can put the ball through the net while Alec Couture, a 6-foot-2 guard/forward, can also hit 3s and will score points in bunches.
Brennan Staubley adds some size up front while Dylan Hall provides offensive punch but Plainville – like every other CCC Region B squad – doesn’t have an equal to Clingan and must throw its smaller roster in mass quantities against the future NCAA Division I talent.
And don’t forget, this game has two veteran coaches at the helm.
Plainville employs long time Newington mentor Scot Wenzel while Central turns to Tim Barrette who has done a fantastic job building up the program for the Rams.
It could be a game against Plainville early but the ultimate outcome will not be in doubt.
City Series Contest Postponed
On Thursday, the Central/Eastern tilt was scheduled but will not be played due to COVID-19 protocol.
A make-up date has not yet been announced.
The Lancers will be down four games and getting all those contests in certainly won’t happen.
Eastern has home games scheduled against Lewis Mills (March 15) and New Britain (March 18) but the fate of the other four make-ups are unclear.
The Lancers had road games against Avon, Southington, and Central while a home date against Plainville in Bristol are the contests Eastern will attempt to squeeze in before the CCC Tournament commences.
