First place on the line as Michigan Center heads to Hanover-Horton
By Mike Moore
Staff Writer
A rivalry game with potential conference implications. Another meeting of two of the best teams in the Cascades Conference. Unbeaten against unbeaten?
What else could one need for a Thursday night in January?
“It’s a real big game,” Hanover-Horton boys basketball coach Chad Mortimer said of his team’s home date at 7 p.m. tonight with Michigan Center. “Being a conference game with two undefeated teams, and it’s on us to protect home court. We don’t want to fall behind knowing we still have to go there. It’s a big one.”
“You cant put too much pressure on one game this early, but it’s a great gauge of where we’re at, especially when we’re the last two unbeatens,” Center coach Travis Gaddy said.
“So, for confidence, sure, this is a huge game.”
Hanover comes into tonight’s action with a 6-1 overall record and a 4-0 mark in the Cascades.
Center is 5-2 overall, and 3-0 in the conference.
One thing is certain, not much is going to come easy.
Both teams are solid on the defensive end — Hanover allows roughly 41 a game while Center gives up 45 — both can score when needed, and both have some veteran players who understand what it takes to play in games like this.
Although, if there is caution for Hanover, it’s the fact Preston Laketa has been out with illness and may not be able to play.
(Late Wednesday night, Mortimer said Laketa was likely out, though that was roughly 24 hours before game time.)
If Laketa misses, Hanover will have to replace some 11 points and seven rebounds.
“Both teams are going to play hard. Both teams play good defense,” Mortimer said. “It’s going come down to who can come out and consistently make some shots.”
“I really think it’s the intangibles in a game like this,” Gaddy said. “Who wins the 50-50 balls. Who gets that key stop when needed, and who takes care of the basketball.”
Kylen Brown (16.3 points per game) and Tavian Gaddy (10.7) anchor a Center offense scoring roughly 63 points per night.
While he did his best to downplay it, having home court is always an advantage for Mortimer and his guys.
“They have guys that have been here a number of times,” he said. “Who knows how much home-court advantage will matter. The main thing is it’s our rims and we know them. That’s about it.”
Really, Hanover has had an advantage no matter where the games have been played.
The Comets are riding a 14-game win streak in the series.
Center’s last win over Hanover was Feb. 5, 2010.
Still, in rivalry games, anything can, and usually does happen.
And for a Thursday night in January, having two conference unbeatens slug it out in Round 1 might just be must-see basketball.
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.