OBSERVER Photo by Ron Szot Chautauqua Hurricane’s David Blanks (1) dribbles around Dubois Dream’s De’Ondre Terrell (13) as Dubois interim coach Jake Perrin looks on, during a game earlier this season, at Brocton High School. Tonight, the Hurricane hosts the Dream, at Brocton High School, at 5 p.m., in an NABL playoff game.

BROCTON — There’s a storm brewing in Chautauqua County this weekend, and we’re not talking about the inclement weather.

The Chautauqua Hurricane will take the court at Brocton High School for the start of the NABL playoffs, to take on the Dubois Dream at 5 p.m. tonight. The Hurricane were ousted in the playoffs last season in the championship game, and the whole team has been itching to get back.

“We definitely got unfinished business. We feel like we came up short last year so this year we’re trying to capitalize off all our mistakes from last year and go ahead and win the whole thing,” says Hurricane point guard Ralph Williams, who was a member of the team last season.

These games have a different feel to them and the whole team knows it.

“We’re fully aware that if we don’t come out prepared, it will be our last game,” said Williams.

Though the team has a sour taste in their mouth coming into today, Hurricane head coach Jerome Moss and his team are as loose and easy-going as normal, with that added air of excitement that comes when the playoffs roll around — an air that Williams acknowledges “everyone can feel.”

The Dream play an aggressive style of basketball, who like to score in transition and “shoot a lot of threes,” according to Coach Moss. This is a style that fits right into what the Hurricane try to do, though the focus in practice has been getting back on defense and playing as a cohesive unit.

“In this game, you can get up 20 points and you can’t relax, because of that 3-point shot, they can come back in a jiffy,” said Coach Moss.

The players seemed pretty happy to play in such a fast paced game, as it’s a style the Hurricane think they can match, especially against the team Williams called their rival.

“I’m pretty up-tempo myself, and I believe that if we get them to play our style of game, we’ll be very successful,” Williams said.

The Hurricane, in addition to Williams, have four players returning from their run last season and have added a new weapon, although a familiar face.

NABL MVP nominee David Blanks rejoined the Hurricanes this year, after playing for them in 2015. Blanks said this area feels like home to him. “It feels like I never left,” he said.

The Erie, PA native has bounced around the NABL the past couple seasons, but at the end of the day, Hurricane owner is Sixto Rosario is a big reason Blanks returned to Chautauqua County.

“He’s always treated me nice, even after I left the team the first time and he’s the reason why I came back,” says Blanks.

Blanks says his job, in addition to putting up MVP numbers all season, is to make sure his team keeps loose, easy going feeling.

“The guys have to know that we’re going out there to do a job, but we’re going out there to have fun. I’ve never known anybody to do anything successfully without having fun,” said Blanks.

Blanks has been showing up to practice early in preparation for the playoffs, and the rest of the team has started to follow suit. The entire Hurricane squad can feel the playoff aura in the building. Blanks though has a little more motivation for the upcoming game, outside of the baseline pressure of a playoff game.

Blanks spent last season playing for the Dubois Dream, and still knows the entirety of the team. Blanks refers to the Dubois Dream community as a family. He says they’ll “always hold a special place in my heart.”

Blanks and the rest of his teammates know that if there is one key to success for Saturday’s game, it’s playing together. They know that they won’t advance very far if they don’t play as one cohesive unit, both offensively and defensively.

“We have a lot of great individual pieces. When we start to put those together, we make those bursts, that can be the difference between a five point game and a 15 or 20 point game. That shows the potential we have,” Blanks said.

Blanks says his MVP nomination isn’t on his mind, and would rather bring a championship home to Chautauqua County.

“I’m just looking forward to the Chautauqua community coming out and rooting us on, and we hope to pack the house,” Blanks said.

Coach Moss acknowledged another concern of his teams play of late has been going cold in the fourth quarter. Between that and being eliminated in the championship game last season, Blanks may just be the missing piece the Hurricane need to jump that final hurdle.

Blanks, laughing and smiling as always, said “Maybe I am.”

The teams split their two games this season, with each of them winning at home, setting the stage for what should be a high scoring showdown this Saturday night.

“It’s going to be a classic,” Blanks said, still loose as ever.