By Mike Moore
Staff Writer
The coach talk, the big-picture approach to tonight suggests this is just one game.
And technically speaking, that may be the case.
But when the Hanover-Horton and Michigan Center boys basketball teams get together, you can bet the game will take a much different feeling than that.
For the first time since last year’s district final, the Comets and Cardinals will meet on the hardwood.
For the first time tonight, one of these two will exit with a loss.
“It’s big game in terms of letting us know where we’re at this early in the season,” Hanover coach Chad Mortimer said of Thursday’s 7 p.m. tip at Center. “At the same time, you have to look at it as one game. If we win, we haven’t won anything. If we lose, we haven’t lost anything yet.”
“It’s the eighth game of the season for both teams,” Center coach Travis Gaddy said. “This is a marathon, not a sprint. The winner tonight will have a little lead in the standings, but we’ll both have 12 games remaining.”
With all that said, it’s still one to mark on the calendars.
Both teams come in at 7-0 on the year.
Both remember the three games played a year ago, two of which were won by Hanover, including one in the district final.
What’s different, though, are the rosters.
Hanover hit the reset button this year, with only a couple varsity veterans back in the mix and an entirely new starting five.
“We really don’t have the experience in the big game like those guys have,” Mortimer said. “(Center) is a very senior-led team, and we’re going to their place. It’s on us to go there and compete.”
Gaddy, who returns a couple four-year players and a host of three-year varsity vets, acknowledged his team’s advantage — as slight as it may be.
“They may not have a ton of guys who’ve been part of these big games, but they’ve certainly been around them,” he said. “With what that program has done, especially winning all those district titles in a row, there’s a sense of familiarity with big games over there.”
So what will this one come down to?
“Both teams shoot well from the outside. We want to try and limit them doing that,” Mortimer said. “At the same time, we know they can drive. It’s going to be key defending. We can’t give them open 3’s or let them dribble drive.”
Gaddy said, for his team to find its eighth victory, there must be a consistent 32 minutes of basketball played.
“In all three games last year, they drastically outscored us in the fourth quarters,” he said. “We have to play 32 minutes. I think, in a game like this, the team that plays a full game will have the best shot at winning.”
Both coaches mentioned the defensive effort required, and that may be easier said than done.
Center enters the game averaging 71 points per contest, with Kylen Brown (14.2), Austin McKenzie (12.7), Connor Pelham (11.3) and Brett Hayes (10.4) all averaging double figures.
On the flip side of that, Hanover is giving up roughly 41 a game.
So something has to give.
“We expect a hard-fought game from two good teams,” Gaddy said. “I think, the way we each play defense, it’s going to be a game where it’s tough to come by points.”
“We expect a great atmosphere for a big game,” Mortimer added. “It’s going to be fun for kids on both teams.”
Mike Moore is a play-by-play commentator and Sports Writer for JTV Sports.
He’s also a Real Estate agent with Real Estate One, specializing with buyers and sellers throughout Michigan, from the Jackson area to metro Detroit. You can reach him at mjm12@albion.edu or by calling (313) 770-6365 with any inquiries.
