Clark Tourney picks

The Clark Tournament is three and a half weeks away and Bartlett (9-3) and Shepherd Hill (9-3) can punch their tickets for the popular tournament. Here’s hoping Oxford can win some big games in the next three weeks to make it a threesome from the South County. Oxford is 6-5 as of today and plays Shepherd Hill tonight in Oxford. The Pirates then play at Grafton on Friday, then finish with Millbury at Auburn, Northbridge, Uxbridge, and Grafton. Oxford has to go 3-3 over their six games to qualify for the Clark and district post season play.

I see the Pirates winning four games and then getting hot in the tournaments. That has been Oxford’s mantra in the past and a strong finish is a testament to staying the course over a long season.

Bartlett is having a season as advertised although teams have found a way to get them down to the speed limit on occasion. The Douglas upset last Sunday, 65-63, could be the best thing to happen to Bartlett because the Indian loss comes at a good time to regroup the troops and move on. It’s no secret that the Indians want to travel in the left hand speed lane all the time. Their express pass needs a tweak before they get to the gym of their dreams at the Kneller Center at Clark. That floor was made for the Indians. They love to be chased on a big court where they can put the pedal to the metal. Nobody saw the Douglas upset coming.

Shepherd Hill has surprised many of us this season as they reloaded after losing four quality scorers from last year’s squad. The Rams like to speed in the fast lane also, and will run when they can. However, they proceed with caution on offense, but they will get out there and set the tempo if they can.

The team that can break our South County hearts is Quaboag. They are rock solid, just ask our local teams. Bartlett and Oxford have lost to Quaboag this winter and Shepherd Hill plays them on Friday night.

At least we don’t have to wait two more weeks for the Patriots to break our hearts. Come on, admit it, you knew the Pats were going to let us down again. We expect way too much out of them and we all know when they are good enough to win games against tougher teams. This was not the year for them. They can’t play defense, and defense wins championships. The Forty Niners and the Ravens play defense. Both those teams can defend the run and the pass. As long as Tom Brady is healthy, the Patriots will win the weak AFC East, get a bye in the playoffs, and be one and done. Those two Super Bowl losses to the New York Giants will never be forgotten and will be remembered as the downfall of the dynasty of the Patriots.

Condolences go out to the families of Theresa Dhembe, 85, William "Pat" Lefebvre, 81, and Evangelinia Pappas, 85, who left us this past week. Theresa Dhembe is the proud mother of Bay Path Football coach Al Dhembe. Eva Pappas came to Webster and little did she know that her move to Webster would impact the start of soccer at Bartlett High School. Her son Sam was an original Indian soccer player and is regarded as the best soccer player in Bartlett’s history. Sam also coached the Indian program. Pat Lefebvre moved his family from Windsor Locks, CT into Webster in the early 70s and his two sons, Bill and Noel, became Indian athletes right away. Pat had more stories than Walt Disney and he could make you laugh just by looking at you. He was always positive and will be considered a friend among friends. We lost three great parents this week. All three brought their children up the right way. Their kids competed with great pride on the athletic fields and the real world.