FC Basketball comes home for their first home game of the 2016-17 season, Dec. 8. The JV and varsity boys will play Washington Union.

FC varsity boys look to continue their strong season after beating Avenal. FC is also now ranked 1 for D5 Varsity basketball via PagMeter.

Washington Union is a good D3 team that I expect to be a great home opener. I predict the JV boys losing against the D3 squad who are hungry for a win as they are starting up the season.

As for the varsity boys I see a hard fought game as this is the best team they have faced so far. The first quarter will be a slow defensive battle as both teams feel each other out.

The Panthers will come into this game hungry to get their first win after dropping the first two games with Derrick Nguyen, ‘17, averaging 18.5 points per game. Seeing that FC is a small private school, the Panthers will want to bully the Eagles into submission. The FC defense needs match the tenacity of the Panthers and they will stun them to keep it a tight game. At half the score will be, 28-24, in favor of Washington Union.

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For those who do not know, the Eagles are a team that plays great from behind and in the third quarter. Damien Boyce, ‘17, will help the comeback effort with excellent instincts on defense and the playmaking of Joel Martinez, ‘17, the Eagles will take the lead going into the 4th. If they can constantly knock down their free throws the score will be, 39-38.

The fourth quarter will be the highest intensity part of the game. On top of numerous lead changes and substitutions from players fouling out, the game will come down to the final shot. As time is running out for the boys,  Nick Leblanc, ‘17, will hit a three to give the Eagles the win 46-44 pushing their overall record to, 4-1.

If the Eagles can pull of this upset, it will push their playoff stock through the roof and it would be hard to not put the Eagles number 1 for the playoff seedings.

Read last weeks FC Insider: Boys soccer opens season at home