WEST PALM BEACH – No. 12 Oxbridge Academy will host No. 13 Boca Raton Wednesday, Jan. 24th at 6 p.m. in West Palm Beach.
The Lady Bobcats have won two games in a row, one in a huge upset of previously top-ranked Palm Beach Lakes and a nail biter against a scrappy Santaluces squad.
Hannah Pratt has been very instrumental in Boca Raton’s success this season with her senior leadership and physicality in the paint. Boca holds a respectable 15-5 record.
The Oxbridge Academy Lady Thunderwolves have quietly dominated nearly every team they’ve faced. They hold a stellar 19-4 record.
Haley Howarth has made her presence known in Palm Beach County with her play as of late. Howarth was recently named Player of the Week by PBC Basketball Forum after averaging 17 points over the past three games.
Head coaches from each squad weighed in and gave some insight into Wednesday’s big match up.
“I am confident that it is going to be a good game,” Boca Raton head coach Nhu Nguyen said. “Of course we are going to try to win it. I look at every tough game as an opportunity to improve our craft from the players to the coaching staff.”
Oxbridge Academy is 8-0 at home, and Nguyen wants Boca Raton (7-1 road record this season) to be the first to knock them off at their place.
“The environment is going to be electrifying,” Nguyen said. “Last time we were there in 2014, we went to double overtime. We were able to come out with a win. Any chance you get to play a top team in the county and they are No. 1 in their class, it doesn’t take a lot of motivation to win. Whether it’s handing their first home loss or knocking off a good opponent the motivation is the same. As a coach, you want to be in games like this. You want to have more matchups like this. You want to coach against teams like this. Our players are excited, and they have earned the rights be play in a matchup like this.”
Nguyen wants his team to slow down Howarth, who was recently named Palm Beach County’s Player of the Week by PBC Basketball Forum.
“Yes, make her miss,” Nguyen said laughingly. “We will see it at game time. The bottom line is everyone on that team is good. We have a lot of respect for each other. Coach Wolfe and I are very good friends. Our players spend a lot of time together on the weekends. Some are best friends. This is what makes this game so enticing.”
Oxbridge Academy head coach Tracy Wolfe is looking forward to tonight’s home tilt.
“I feel pretty confident going into it,” Wolfe said. “We have watched Boca play several times this year, and they have seen us play several teams. We know each others’ strengths and weaknesses. They have a lot of talent on their team, but I feel we match up very well with them. This game has been circled on our calendar all year, and I know both of our teams are excited for tomorrow.”
Wolfe commented on whether or not every home game is a must-win one.
“We don’t really look at it as a must win situation,” Wolfe said. “Every time we step foot on the floor, we want to bring our best. Whether we are playing at home or away, our goal is to play for each other and make each other better. If we can stay disciplined and do that, we believe we have the ability to win every time we are on the floor. However, we don’t like to lose at home ever – especially to Boca (smiles)!”
Wolfe spoke on Oxbridge Academy’s plans to contain Pratt.
“We do not have any special adjustments for Hannah,” Wolfe said. “She’s a great player that can play inside-out. However, we also have an incredibly talented post player in Kaylon Smith. Kaylon is very good defensively, and I trust that she can handle Hannah without making any special adjustments. I believe we are two very equally talented teams, and tonight is going to be a lot of fun!”
