By Mike Moore (Photo by Ryan Kerwin, JTV Sports)
Staff Writer
Roughly 10 hours before his team took the court against Hanover-Horton, Michigan Center boys coach Travis Gaddy stressed that, no matter what, it was just one game in a regular season of 20.
A marathon, not a sprint, so to speak.
Roughly 15 hours after his Center squad wrapped up a 19-point victory over a previously unbeaten Hanover team, he did his best to maintain the same frame of mind.
“This was a good win, but any win is a good one,” Gaddy said of his squads 66-47 victory Thursday night at home.
The game most expected played out in the first quarter, with Hanover leading 16-15 after the first quarter.
Then came the second.
Then came a 32-11 run for Center that more or less ended the game before halftime.
“That was the difference in the game, really,” Gaddy said. “Our defense played really well. Ryan Williams came off the bench and played well. We hit three 3-pointers and got running.”
Kylen Brown was the catalyst, leading Center with 21 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals.
“To be honest, the difference did surprise me,” Gaddy said of the final score. “We all came in expecting this to be a tight game. But that’s going to be a team that gets better. Come the end of the year, Hanover will be a tough, tough out.”
So what now for Center, a team that’s 8-0 right now?
“Moving forward, I think this is a win to build from,” Gaddy said. “Hanover has always been that monkey on our back We felt we could win, but to do it, and do it the way we did, can really give these kids a new sense of confidence.”
Of course, the other option is one Gaddy and his guys must avoid.
“We have to guard against a let down,” he said with a laugh. “This was our second game in five weeks. We’re looking forward to playing twice a week and finding some rhythm. We’ve practiced enough. Now we’re ready to play.”
Opponents beware.
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.
