Napoleon makes statement, sends strong message in 67-51 victory over Hanover
By Mike Moore Staff Writer Napoleon — Less than 24 hours before taking on his former program and his former coach, Napoleon boys basketball coach Jeremy File said he and his team were approaching Wednesday night’s tilt against Hanover-Horton like any other game. The morning after a 67-51 victory, File admitted things may be at another level. “This is definitely a rivalry now,” he said Thursday morning. “This is a great rivalry, and moving forward it’s only going to be more so. It’s going to be even tougher next time, especially going to their place. But that’s all great. This is a big rivalry now.” File, the first-year Napoleon boys basketball coach was an All-State recipient during his playing days at Hanover-Horton. He guided the Comets to the quarterfinals in 2002 and the state semifinals in 2003, eventually ending his career as the leading scorer in program history with more than 1,500 to his name. This was his first time taking on Hanover and his former coach Chad Mortimer. Things were close early on, with Napoleon holding a 15-11 lead after the first quarter. By halftime, though, the Pirates had opened a…
New-look Northwest girls basketball team producing same results from solid past
By Mike Moore Staff Writer Jackson — Ryan Carroll called the season so far a ‘challenge’ and a ‘guessing game.’ And that much the Northwest girls basketball coach loves. It was last winter, with a group of varsity veterans, that Carroll helped guide the Mounties to a 22-3 record. It was also last year that Carroll and the Mounties bud farewell to five key seniors who had formed and shaped exactly what the program had become. So, when the 2016-17 season launched, Northwest was in a slight rebuild on the fly. “The challenge has been a sort of guessing game, trying to see who’s going to step up or take that leadership role in any given game,” Carroll said. “Truthfully, it’s been fun. I’m working harder at it and they are accepting the challenge to do different things. As of Thursday morning, the rebuild has been more of a stepping stone. The Mounties were an impressive 9-4 overall and 6-2 in conference play following Tuesday’s 35-26 victory over Eaton Rapids. Nine wins in 13 games, and spot near the top of the standings in the I-8, is impressive considering the losses…
