Brown says Northwest basketball team will get better with time
By Mike Moore
Staff Writer
Jackson – In each of the first two games of the season Justin Brown got glimpses of what his team could be, and what it is right now.
Talented and inexperienced.
Two traits that often go hand in hand, which can be good and bad.
“There are going to be nights we play very well,” Brown, the Northwest boys hoops coach, said. “And on other nights, the inexperience is going to show. We have a lot of guys playing together for the first time, and that’s a very big adjustment.”
The Mounties found their stride in the second half of last season, closing the regular portion of the schedule with eight-consecutive wins before falling in the playoff opener to end with a 13-8 record.
But the playoff game was the final four eight seniors.
The 2015-16 squad has just three varsity veterans, features seven players that were on the JV a year ago, and two transfers.
As for the afore mentioned glimpses Brown got in the first two games, well, Northwest led Harper Creek in the second quarter of a close game before losing 71-52.
In the opener, the Mounties led Adrian in the fourth quarter before some mistakes led to a 54-46 loss.
“We have all the pieces, it’s a matter of putting it together right now,” Brown said. “We’re going to do some things out of character and make mistakes, but the goal is to get better and better every time out.”
Asked when he’d like to start seeing it all come together, Brown quickly mentioned Friday night’s tilt at Lumen Christi where the Titans are working in an entire new starting lineup and are 0-3 entering the game.
“We’re looking forward to it,” Brown said of the game. “I feel like we match up well with a team like Lumen, who is going through growing pains also. We want to come out, play hard, and take care of the things we can control. If we do that, we’ll be happy at the end of the night. And if they are the better team, well shake their hands and move forward.”
Better with time, it’s a game plan and reality the Mounties are working toward as the winter season unfolds.
And even in the early moments of the regular season, lessons are being learned.
“If we play like we’re capable, we’ll win a lot of basketball games,” Brown said. “But I want to see the effort be there every time. Those first couple games we got outworked at times, and that can’t happen.”
JTV is covering Friday night’s game featuring Lumen and Northwest. The game will air Saturday and Sunday at 3:30pm and 9:30pm.
Mike Moore will have a full recap of the game as well, check back with JTV.tv.
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.