Basketball Game Preview: Hope Blue Wave vs. North Smithfield Northmen

The Hope Blue Wave will head out on the road to face off against the North Smithfield Northmen at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. North Smithfield took a loss in their last matchup and will be looking to turn the tables on Hope, who comes in off a win.

Last Saturday, Hope took their contest with ease, bagging a 68-34 win over Block Island. That looming 68-34 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Blue Wave yet this season.

Meanwhile, North Smithfield ended up a good deal behind Ponaganset on Monday and lost 69-52.

Hope will have to keep a close watch on Sam Drolet and Connor Reilly, a pair of players who had a big impact on North Smithfield's prior game. Drolet posted 20 points, while Reilly earned 17 points. Reilly's evening made it five games in a row in which he has scored at least ten points. The team also got some help courtesy of Tim Ferri, who put up seven points.

North Smithfield has traveled a rocky road recently having lost three of their last four games, which put a noticeable dent in their 7-8 record this season. As for Hope, the victory got them back to even at 6-6.

Hope suffered a grim 67-42 defeat to North Smithfield when the teams last played back in February of 2019. Can Hope avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.