WILSON EXTRA: The rematch is set

It is time.

The programs are printed and the Sigel Center in Richmond waits for the next Group A champion to be crowned. Wilson Memorial is two wins shy of crossing that threshold and taking the scepter out of the hands of Strasburg.

But first the Green Hornets will have to beat the Rams for a second time tonight, this time in the Group A semifinals.

Wilson Memorial lived on the edge during its Group A quarterfinal match on Tuesday against a softer opponent in Northumberland. The Green Hornets won, but had a hard time switching to a slower paced game — they won’t have that problem tonight.

Last time Wilson met Strasburg on Saturday the Hornets won in a sweep and claimed the Region B championship. But this time there is even more on the line.

With a Group A final appearance on the line, Hornets coach Kim Claytor did not take the competition lightly.

“I told the girls these teams are here for a reason,” Claytor said. “We have to push them and make them make the mistakes first.”

Just as the Rams have to contain the Hornets’ Kala Guy tonight, Wilson needs to adjust to Rams’ striker Jenna Smoot. Wilson controlled the hitter and acknowledged the threat after its first encounter against the team in Fishersville.

Guy said after her team’s contest against the Rams that Smoot was “an amazing player.”

The Hornets bench boss knows what they need to do about the Rams’ star attacker — it’s all about timing and defense.

“You can’t go through her. You have to block her and take control,” Claytor said.

Both teams were able to size each other up after the Region B tourney. The Hornets’ Noël Bartley tuned into Smoot’s style and timing. Bartley had several blocks against Smoot during their last meeting.

“Noël did very well against her,” Claytor said. “She got the timing down and that moved Smoot.”

That experience could prove to be the deal breaker and move the chess pieces in favor of the Hornets.

The Rams rebounded after their loss against Wilson in their next match sweeping Mathews on the road.

Both teams have a lot to lose.

“They are the defending champs,” Claytor said. “And they are going to defend their title. We can’t play flamboyant.”

The match will begin at 5 p.m.