Contenders and Pretenders

METROWEST REC: Week 3 Predictions

By Taylor Pettiford | Metrowest League Coordinator

Season Predictions: 0-3

As our Rec League rounds into form, we’re learning more and more about our field of teams. Three squads – Ankle Bullies, Old Game Changers and Wildcats – are the clear-cut favorites. But in Week 3, our bottom half teams – Hustle, Tapped Out and Uncle Drew All Stars – get a crack at the leaders and a chance to not only pull off an upset, but also establish themselves as true contenders. Without further ado, let’s dive into this week’s predictions and try to improve on last week’s terrible 0-3 start.

7 p.m. – TAPPED OUT (0-2) vs. OLD GAME CHANGERS (2-0)

These two teams’ opening games couldn’t have gone more differently. Brendan Connolly and crew started off hot and staved off a comeback in Week 1 then took the top-ranked team to overtime and won on an Andrew Christopherson buzzer beater. OGC is oozing with chemistry.

Tapped Out on the other hand looked like they wanted make good on their name and call it quits for much of last week. With captain Scott Lubarsky visibly frustrated and the team just simply not gelling, their 0-2 hole feels a lot more insurmountable than it actually is. Brian Fay will make his Tapped Out debut in Week 3 and bring some much needed experience to the team. But OGC’s wing duo of Andrew Christopherson and Riley Traveller will be too much to handle.

PREDICTION: OGC

7 p.m. – HUSTLE (1-1) vs. ANKLE BULLIES (2-0)

This one’s an interesting matchup. Heading into the season we wouldn’t have batted an eye in telling you Hustle wins this game. But after two weeks, we feel the complete opposite. Hustle’s backcourt studs – Elzey James and Brendan Andersen – have underwhelmed on the young season. If they wake up and play to their potential while allowing Felipe Billa to spread the floor and Jeff Raymond to do cleanup work, they have a fighter’s chance.

But the Ankle Bullies just look too good. Roberto Bonilla, CJ Clinkscale and Jorge Fernandez have been dominant and have the speed and chemistry to put this game out of reach early. We hope Hustle makes it close. But we doubt it.

PREDICTION: ANKLE BULLIES

8 p.m. – UNCLE DREW ALL STARS (0-2) vs. WILDCATS (1-1)

Hailing from Woof City, we present you the Uncle Drew All Stars fresh off a 25-point butt-whooping in Week 2. Here’s to hoping the shade we just threw will wake these guys up so they can play with the energy necessary to fulfill their potential. Ben Lee, Grant Hornung and Tedi George have the makings of an all-league backcourt trio. And with defenders like Otto Medrano and Warren Lane, this team should be one of the better defensive clubs too.

But the chemistry they lack will need to magically appear all at once come tipoff Wednesday night because the Wildcats are GOOD. Stephen Dion leads the league statistically and his supporting cast of Jon Waters, Quentin Nowland, Mark Albright and Lou Hinckley are incredibly well-rounded. Fresh off a stinging defeat, expect the Wildcats to come out motivated.

PREDICTION: WILDCATS