Southeast Conference Tournament Preview: X-Factors

The Southeast Conference completed their regular season, and even with the new Covid 19 rules, this year has been nothing short of competitive and fun. A "win and advance" tournament will wrap up the season and crown a Southeast Conference champion. Let's look at the teams and the x-factors that could be the potential difference of their respective teams advancing. Seeding: #1: Bridgewater-Raynham (10-0, 8-0) #2: New Bedford (7-3, 6-2) #3: Durfee (3-6, 3-5) #4: Dartmouth (2-6,2-6) #5: Brockton (1-7,1-7) Bridgewater-Raynham: Plays winner of Dartmouth/Brockton X-Factor: Amber Silva- 5'6''- SG/PG - 2022 Bridgewater-Raynham is so dominant, not just because of their talent across the roster, but they play as a cohesive unit, and everyone fills their roles beautifully. With senior leadership from Tahlia Tah, Kenzie Matulonis, and Bella Calvani, the Trojans have a good balance of talent and experience. The player that I find to be the biggest difference-maker is Amber Silva. Silva is so valuable because she can space the floor with her elite catch and shoot ability. More importantly, her efficiency numbers at home are excellent. Silva's ability to consistently hit open jump shots is key, with the Trojans having home-court advantage throughout the tournament. The junior combo guard at home has a true shooting percentage of 52% and an effective field goal percentage of 47%, so she has proven throughout the season that she can be reliable when the defense collapses on Matulonis' lane penetration. Silva also owns a 6.5 assist/turnover ratio at home. A reliable ball-handler who has shown the ability to make good playmaking decisions when the ball is in her hands. When teams throw a double team at Matulonis, Silva can be responsible for quarterbacking the offense, and she will do it error-free. One of the most clutch players in the Southeast Conference, the 5'6'' junior is money in the 4th quarter. Totalling 14 points in the 4th quarter and OT in a win over New Bedford followed up by an 8-point, 4th quarter on 3/3 shooting (2/2 from three) against Bishop Feehan, Silva is as cold-blooded as they come in the clutch. Dartmouth vs. Brockton: Winner plays Bridgewater-Raynham Dartmouth X-Factor: Kasey Oliver - 5'5'' - PG - 2022 Oliver is a bonafide scorer. What is impressive about the 5'5'' floor general is that she can be so efficient scoring in the paint. In a game earlier in the season, she scored 28 points, and 14 of those points came inside. Her ability to maneuver through the lane and score over bigger players shows how tough she is. She does not settle for outside jump shots, even though she can knock them down at a high rate. Instead, she breaks her defender down and blows by them to finish at the rim strong. Against Brockton, Oliver must get her mid-range and outside game going.Brockton has an excellent defense in the interior, so challenging their forwards would be playing to Brockton's favor. Oliver is incredible at creating separation and getting to her spots on offense. She plays with so much confidence and can hit tough contested shots and single-handedly take over a game with her electric scoring. An unselfish passer, Oliver can thread the needle and zip passes through a zone when she does not light up the scoreboard herself. Dartmouth is going to need Oliver's best offensively to knock off a scrappy and athletic Brockton team. Brockton X-Factor: Jaslanie Tavares - 5'7'' - PF/SF - 2022 One of the most intimidating forces in the paint, Tavares's defensive prowess is second to none in the Southeast Conference. She makes it extremely difficult for players to score on her. She contests shots well, will out muscle anyone in the post, and is unstoppable on the glass. A nightly double-double threat, the junior has a strong offensive post-game. Her patented spin move in the lane followed by her soft touch on the layup is unguardable. She is also a point forward for the Boxers. In transition, she can go coast to coast and has the concentration and body control to absorb contact and finish the break strong. She is the heart and soul of a young Brockton team, and the aggression and energy that she brings on both sides of the floor give the rest of the Boxers' roster a jolt. Brockton will need her locked in on the defensive side of the ball and shut down the paint. She is excellent at pushing offensive post players off their spot and making them uncomfortable. Early in the year vs. Durfee, the Hilltoppers went 1/7 from the field when Tavares was the primary defender, so if she can translate that play Monday night, it can help lead Brockton to a showdown with the #1 team in the conference. New Bedford vs. Durfee: Winner advances to Finals New Bedford X-Factor: Tatum Reis - 5'7''- SG - 2023 Reis quietly has become New Bedford's most efficient and consistent player. Leading the team in effective field goal percentage, Reis has been a reliable and timely scorer for the Whalers all season long. She is so vital to how the Whalers want to play. A team built off of scoring by capitalizing on their opponent's mistakes; New Bedford wants to pressure you the length of the court and make the game a track meet. The Whalers have pesky guards who are great at forcing turnovers, and Reis does a fantastic job sprinting the floor and putting herself in a spot to get easy transition layups. She leads the team in points off turnovers and is 2nd on the team in second-chance points; therefore, the Whalers will depend on Reis to convert on fast break opportunities and give the team a boost in the halfcourt when they secure extra possessions. Against a tough-minded Durfee team, Reis will continue her solid play on both sides of the floor to secure the win. Durfee X Factor: Mackenzie Carreiro - 5'6'' - PG - 2022 Carreiro has been one of the best scorers in the Southeast Conference for the past three seasons. One of the toughest players in the conference, the 5'6'' guard is a relentless attacker on offense. An athlete who can score 20 points in her sleep, Carreiro can score efficiently at all three levels and sets the tone on the offensive end for Durfee. She is a perfect fit for Durfee’s basketball culture, where they are built on toughness, grit, and physicality. Even at her height, she isn't afraid to battle inside for rebounds or get in the ball-handlers air space and force turnovers. The Hilltoppers will give maximum effort on the defensive end and win the rebound battle due to their size advantage. Yet, Carreiro’s leadership will ultimately be the key to victory Tuesday night. New Bedford wants to play fast, and they want to force their opponent to play at their pace. Carreiro must assert herself on offense and control the tempo of the game. She does a great job in the halfcourt, initiating the offense and not forcing anything. If she can dictate the pace and continue to play inspiring defense, Durfee will be in the driver's seat to advance to the finals.