Michigan Center can take major step toward conference title tonight
By Mike Moore
Staff Writer
Michigan Center – In a literal and mathematical sense, a victory tonight won’t clinch or guarantee anything.
But a quick glance at the remaining schedule, and a little common sense would suggest a victory tonight would shape the landscape for the Michigan Center boys basketball team and its first conference title in a long, long time.
Since 1993, to be exact.
“One thing we talked about Thursday after practice was not putting too much pressure on ourselves, but really enjoying the moment,” Center coach Travis Gaddy said late Thursday night in regards to tonight’s home tilt against Hanover-Horton. “We have to embrace the moment. We expect a great atmosphere. People have been talking to me about this game for a week now. It’s on us to go out and make the most of it.”
Center welcomes in Hanover this evening with a chance to sweep the season series and take a stranglehold of first place in the Cascades Conference standings.
“This is a golden opportunity,” Gaddy added. “Not just for me, but for the players, the staff and the entire community.”
Center is 13-2 this season and 10-0 in the Cascades.
Hanover is also 13-2, but the Comets’ 9-1 mark in the conference standings has them sitting one-game back.
Center won the first meeting of the season 56-55 Jan. 21 on the road.
“We played very good defense for three quarters,” Gaddy said of the first meeting. “In the end, we were lucky enough to have a big enough lead to hold them off.”
The teams were unbeaten in conference play entering the first game, and Center came out on fire.
The Comets led just 16-12 after the first quarter, but by the time the fourth rolled around, the lead was 40-27.
Hanover came roaring back with 28 points in the fourth, though, and nearly completed the comeback.
“That’s the thing we have to learn about that team and what Chad (Mortimer) does. They are never out of anything,” Gaddy said. “They never quit.”
Center’s stingy defense through three quarters was coupled with a balance attack on the offensive end.
Connor Pelham was the leading scorer with just 13 points, but Kylen Brown (12), Tavian Gaddy (10) and Brett Haynes (8) all chipped in as well.
Jay McMiller scored 27 to lead Hanover, but no other player scored more than six.
Which brings both teams to tonight.
Center is riding an 11-game win streak, falling last to Lenawee Christian 52-51 in overtime on Jan. 5.
Hanover’s streak of wins sits at seven, with the last loss coming to tonight’s opponent.
Each team has three conference games remaining, so no other opponent could catch them in the standings. But there’s still plenty of back and forth that could happen between one another.
And that only puts more emphasis on tonight.
A Hanover win locks the teams in a 10-1 draw with three games to play and increases the likelihood of a shared title.
A Center win puts the Comets up two games in the standings with three to play, and all but assures Gaddy his first conference title as coach and the first for the program since he was playing for the ’93 squad.
“I don’t know the last time this program has been this close,” Gaddy said. “We’re knocking on the door and have chance to just about wrap things up.”
The two-time defending league champs will certainly have something to say about that.
Mike Moore is a play-by-play commentator and Sports Writer for JTV Sports. You can reach him at mjm12@albion.edu. He’s also the author of ‘Love, Defined; A Dedication to the Love, Sacrifice, and Magic of Motherhood.’
Love, Defined is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Tate Publishing or by contacting Mike directly.