Will BTE Lock Up the No. 1 Seed this Week?

SUMMERLIN OPEN:  Week 6 Predictions

By L.C. Comine | Summerlin Media Associate

6:30 p.m. - AAO (0-5) vs. BTE (5-0) 

This will be the second meeting of the season between AAO and BTE and in the first meeting BTE had no issues with AAO defeating them 122-100.  This time around I am guessing this game probably will look about the same or possibly worse based on AAO’s depth.  BTE will be looking for its 13th straight victory and with that victory BTE should lock up the No. 1 seed for the playoffs that start in a few weeks.  It will be interesting to see how AAO decides to attack BTE in this one especially with only five guys. 

BTE has scored over 100 points in every game this season with the exception of their two games against the Villains.  Expect BTE’s Jordan Cannon to have a huge game this week.  In the first meeting he scored 43 points and this time around AAO won’t have Dreu Johnson so I would expect Cannon to have an easier time.  Also look for Edward Vaughns and Andre McFarland to feed off Cannon this week and help propel BTE to a big win.  If AAO wants to pull the upset they will need a MVP type performance out of Mihail Kocevski and Bobby Mears will also need to duplicate the performance.  It is possible but I just don’t think AAO will have enough to keep up with BTE.  BTE rolls and stays undefeated.

Prediction: BTE- 127, AAO- 94

7:30 p.m. - Villains (3-2) vs. Livin’ the Dream (2-3)

Well these two teams should be familiar with each other.  Last week they played there make up game from Week 3 and the Villains out lasted Dream 119-107.  This week’s game is very important for both teams.  The Villains can almost lock up the No. 2 seed in the playoffs and if the Dream can win they will be in tie with the Villains for the No. 2 spot with two weeks left to play.  Attendance as always will be something to watch in this one.  The Villains already know they will be without Dave Murtha who is already out of town for the holiday and Kodiak Yazzie is questionable due to an injury.  The Villains will rely heavily this week on Chase Skinkis and Dreu Johnson to carry the load.  They scored 64 points combined in the game last week and they will need to be aggressive once again this week.  Tij Von Nieda and Juan Carter are also going to be key as well with Murtha and possibly Yazzie out.  The Villains won’t change what they want to do with guys out so Dream will still have to be ready for a track meet.  

Livin’ the Dream could have a huge advantage in the paint if Kodiak is out.  John Lazosky and Duelle Gore could have quite an advantage down low this week against the Villains.  In last week’s game Lazo and Gore scored 57 of the teams 107 points.  There is no doubt this team can score as they have done so all year but the real issue has been their lack of effort on defense.  Dream is giving up 109 PPG this season and I don’t care if the Villains only have five guys.  If Dream doesn’t defend they will give points galore once again.  If Dream can contain Skinkis and Johnson they may win this game.  If they get in a track meet with the Villains they will lose by double digits once again.  I think this game will look a lot like last week.  Lazo and Gore will get theirs and Dream will make it uncomfortable at times for the Villains.  But in the end it will be too much Dreu Johnson and Tij Von Nieda from deep and the Villains move to 4-2.

Prediction: Villains- 112, Livin’ The Dream- 102