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Western Boys Basketball

By Mike Moore

Staff Writer

 

The big one is Tuesday.

 

The focus is on Friday.

 

That’s the message Ryan Mulnix has for his Western boys basketball team as it preps for tonight’s home date with Hastings.

 

Yes, Hastings has won three games all year.

 

Yes, Western rolled in a 59-46 victory early this season.

 

And yes, Marshall looms Tuesday night in a pivotal conference game.

 

But no, looking past the here and now is not an option.

 

“We have no wiggle room,”Mulnix said late Thursday night. “We want to win every game we have from here on out.”

 

The Panthers are 11-3 overall and 6-2 in conference play.

 

They were tied for first place before falling to Coldwater 69-63 at home last Friday.

 

“It was a home game, and they were without their best player,” Mulnix said. “I think we let our guard down. That was a disappointing loss.

 

Now it’s time to rebound.

 

“We’re still talking about a league title, but really, we’re focused on what we can control,” Mulnix said. “We have to worry about what we can do, and that starts with Hastings.”

 

Hastings comes into play just 3-9, and Mulnix said the key for his guys is a quick start.

 

“Have to start fast,” he stressed. “It’s something we haven’t done enough of. We need to start fast, but at the same time, adjust on the fly. We have to flow from transition into our regular offense. I think we’ve gotten away from that too much.”

 

And as good as Western has been this year, home court hasn’t been kind.

 

“I don’t know why either,” Mulnix said of a 4-3 home record, compared to an unbeaten mark on the road. “We have to get the ball moving, keep the pace at a high tempo and high pace. We need to keep them running and playing faster than they want to.”

 

Long story short, the Panthers need to avoid an upset.

 

Their 6-2 mark in the I-8 has them tied with Marshall for second place and one game back of Coldwater.

 

To get back into first, the Panthers need Coldwater to stumble once more, and, of course, need to defeat Marshall Tuesday night.

 

But again, Mulnix and his guys will worry about that all in due time.

 

“We haven’t talked about Marshall, or whoever is next,” Mulnix said. “But it’s there. We know that. But this one means so much. We haven’t played great on home court. It’s our Snowfest and all that. So we have to be ready to go.”

Mortgage 1 Jackson

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.

Jim Winter Auto Group
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