By Mike Moore
Staff Writer
The win-loss records are nearly identical, in opposite fashion, that is.
And as the Lumen Christi (2-6) and Western (7-2) boys basketball teams enter Friday night’s tilt in Parma, the hardwood rivals do so after much different results earlier in the week.
“We beat a good Harper Creek team,” Lumen coach Pat Neville said of his guys and their 61-51 victory three nights ago, just the second of the season. “We’re excited to try and put two solid games together.”
On the flip side, Western was an impressive 7-1 entering Tuesday’s tilt with Marshall, and then got handled 52-27.
“We’re looking forward to the game,” coach Ryan Mulnix said. “After Marshall, you want to get back out there as quick as possible. But really, we had our best practice of the season Wednesday. Now we have to see how they respond.”
The game is set for 7:30 p.m. at Western.
“The two big kids are key for them,” Neville said of Western’s Steele Fortress and Desmond Price.
Without much size to answer with, the key will be Lumen slowing those two down.
The Panthers’ pair inside is each averaging roughly 13 points and 10 rebounds per game.
“We’re coming off a three-game stretch where we’ve played some teams that have more size than Lumen,” Mulnix said. “They’ve got some size, but I think this is a game we will have that slight advantage in, and we want to use that.”
Averaging roughly 57 points per game, Mulnix also said he wants his team to run.
“For us, it’s a matter of running and playing at a quick pace,” he said. “And if we can get some inside touches and have a rebound advantage, we’re going to be in good shape.”
The Panthers also have to shoot better than they did Tuesday.
And that’s putting things mildly.
“We were 0-for-15 from 3-point land,” Mulnix said. “We have to be better.”
Despite the upside-down record, Neville said his guys come into Friday with a good amount of confidence.
“You take out the second half against Marshall, and the game against Jackson, and we’ve really been in every single game this year,” he said. “We feel of the six losses, there’s some that could have easily gone the other way.”
Still, with a young team trying to figure things out, Neville laughed when asked his thoughts about the possibility of a two-game win streak.
“We’re trying to take things one game at a time,” he said. “You can’t really look too far down the road. Western has some good experience. We saw them play over Christmas. They play fast. We have to be ready to go.”
Western won both meetings last season. The game will air Sunday at 1p.m. and 7p.m. on JTV and jtv.tv/live.
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.
