Top seeds Unity and PBL are in line to meet in the boys' basketball regional championship in Tuscola on Friday. It’s no sure thing, considering suspensions, injuries, attitudes, tough competition, short benches and all, but that’s still what Record sports editor Cody Westerlund and County Star sports editor Chris Davies think will happen. They share plenty of thoughts in this primer of what you need to know for this regional.

First things first: What should PBL fans know about Unity basketball?

CD: The first thing to know about Unity is 6-foot-7 center Aaron Larson. Not only is the senior a physical presence, but he is also deceptively speedy. His speed, combined with the rest of the team, is the second thing to know about Unity: It can run the court as well as anyone.

Its break starts with senior Alex Thorson, who feeds the ball forward to Larson and forwards Taylor Black and Austin Fender. When the Rockets move the ball this way and get out in transition, they are nearly unstoppable. They get their dirty work done by the fast break but also have pure shooters that can work effectively in the half-court offense and have done so many times this season.

What are the top seeds’ weaknesses that could be exploited in regionals?

CD: The Rockets’ biggest weakness is that they rely on just six players to do everything. Larson rarely ever sees the bench after introductions — mostly because Unity do not have a suitable bench player that can give quality minutes in his stead. Unfortunately for PBL fans, foul trouble is rare for the standout big man.

But while he keeps his composure, Black is often a hot head. Black plays with a lot of heart, and it gets him in trouble frequently. If he is forced to the bench or if Fender is sent to the bench, the Rockets lose a dimension of their game because they give up size by inserting JV players.

CW: For the Panthers, putting five experienced players on the floor could be a challenge. When at full strength, they only go seven deep. And recently, starting junior wing Jordan Glad received a suspension due to a violation of school rules; he won’t be eligible to return until a potential regional title game Friday. Then last Friday, starting senior center Gauge Snider suffered a laceration on his head after taking an elbow and received eight staples. He was ruled out for games Tuesday and Wednesday, though if PBL makes it to Friday, he “probably” will be able to go, coach Scot Vogel said.

But even then, it’s hard to say how much he’ll be affected – mentally or physically. So this puts a lot of pressure on PBL to a) stay out of foul trouble and b) get solid performances from Drew Schrodt and Weston Weber, a pair of sophomores who came off the bench for most of the year. Past that, the Panthers are also sometimes too reliant on lead guard Tanner Harris to create their offense. If he is off his game or slowed by being the focal point of the defense, they could be in for a long night.

Do you foresee any upsets before the title game, or will the seeds holding true?

CD: The fourth-seeded Monticello Sages are an intriguing team to me. Unity has played — and beat — them twice this season. There are no secrets between these two, and Tuesday, Monticello could finally have the edge against Unity. Likewise, St. Thomas More and PBL are familiar with each other and, as Unity fans remember, the Sabers are good in the postseason. Still, I don’t really expect either the Rockets or Panthers to trip over these teams on the way to the final. The talent I’ve seen from both squads this year allows me to feel comfortable picking them to move on.

CW: Upsets are cute, but you’ve come to the wrong place if you want to see one in Tuscola. It’s not that the Rockets and Panthers are that much better than everyone else here – Unity has been tested by Monticello, and PBL was well-challenged at St. Thomas More – but I just think they each have two main ingredients it takes to win in the postseason: an experienced, go-to offensive player and a tried-and-true identity that’s been successful this year. The other teams can’t say that.

But if you’re really going to push me, here’s where I’d look for an upset: Wednesday’s potential semifinal between short-handed PBL and STM. Glad and Snider will be out for the Panthers, and Sabers guard Jaycee Hillsman will be the best talent on the floor. If he gets a hot hand, STM could pull out a win. I don’t suspect that will happen, though, because the strong defense of PBL guard Dakota Zenner has kept Hillsman in check in the past.

So who wins the regional, and what’s the difference?

CD: It will be the top two teams going at it, and this going to be quite a battle, and the individual matchups of Larson against (potentially) Snider and Thorson against Tanner Harris could determine the final outcome.

The Rockets’ big man is averaging 17 points per game, and Thorson gets more than seven assists per game, giving Unity an edge. Beyond those two duels, in the two through four positions, advantages become less clear. Black is Unity’s best weapon but can be bested by his emotions. Fender regularly gets in foul trouble, and Matt Restad is most effective when shooting threes.

Yet, despite their weaknesses, Unity’s six players (including sixth man Justin Deters) are the better group in my opinion. The Rockets have won with guts and grit this year, and there will be plenty of that to go around in the regional championship. Unity is going to win a fast-paced game, probably in the final minutes of play, 63-57.

CW: It will be PBL against Unity, and I believe the game will be won or lost by how well the Rockets adjust to a slower game (on a side note, Chris, donuts at the next sports meeting are on me if Unity hits 60 on the scoreboard).

And the important part isn’t the physical aspect; it’s having the mental discipline to not fire up an 18-footer or pushing through traffic for a wild layup try just because you can. Larson is a tough matchup for PBL, and if Unity feeds him the ball consistently and gets good shots, it should win. That said, there are three certainties in life: death, taxes and PBL winning regional championships. At least that’s the way it’s been in the recent past. I don’t know how it will look, because it’s never pretty with these guys. But somehow, Snider will make a triumphant return and the toughness of the Panthers will carry them to a fourth consecutive regional crown.

PBL 45, Unity 43 in (just) one overtime this year.