Opening night redux

Wow.

Not just the new-look Marauder gymnasium -- which isn't complete yet, but still has received an overhaul that almost makes it unrecognizable to those of us who have been there in the past. It has new bleachers (and is double-decked on both sides), new lights, new paint job, new floor. Looks great, too (for those who might wonder ... yes, it's still a wise idea to wear short sleeves when you attend a game there. Some things don't change :) ).

However, what was even more impressive was the Marauders' performance against 2A #8 Lapel. MV showed it's worth every bit of its #4 ranking in Class 3A with a 68-39 victory. The Marauders won this with their defense -- using four different defenses during the game to befuddle Lapel and then using their size and quickness to create turnovers and turn them into transition baskets -- lots of transition hoops. Many of those touched off an 18-point first-half run that put the Marauders up 30-13. Lapel cut the deficit to 14 late in the third quarter, but MV quickly pushed the lead north of 20 and it stayed there.

Daniel Turner was impressive in his work ethic. He battled foul trouble, but he twice got position, missed the initial shot against 6-5 Lapel center Logan Ingle, and then stuck with it for a putback. He finished with 18 points, most of them in the 3rd and early 4th quartesr. But the guy who was most impressive was Jake Stafford, who scored 14 first-half points and ended up with 16 overall. He also had several rebounds and ran the point much of the night for the Marauders.

For the record, Turner scored the first basket in the newly-renovated gym -- a 3-pointer 12 seconds into the game. He actually scored the first six points in the new gym. MV center D'Armond Davis became the first to dunk, quickly flushing an alley-oop pass late in the third quarter (although it was the Marauders' fifth attempt at said dunk ... the other four went awry somehow). Quinn Williams, a transfer from Fishers, played some point guard and had the move of the night, running on the break using his 5-7 body against three significantly taller Lapel players, squirting through to hit a scoop shot and draw the foul for a 3-point play.

MV has a HUGE game Saturday, traveling to Hinkle Fieldhouse to face Hamilton Heights, the team that upset the Marauders in sectional play last year. Tipoff is approximately 4 p.m., right after the Marauder and Huskie girls play at 2:30.

Wednesday was a good night for Hancock County teams -- including the two we'll have on the next Game of the Week broadcast. Defending sectional champion New Palestine spoiled Dean Foster's debut as Jennings County coach by a 39-38 score. Eastern Hancock won its traditional opening game against Centerville 72-57. Greenfield-Central played Tuesday, and wasn't as fortunate in being doubled up by Richmond in Josh Johnson's debut with the Cougars.

Elsewhere in the HHC, Shelbyville won Tom Beach's debut as the Golden Bears' coach, knocking off Beech Grove 73-70. Pendleton Heights beat Alexandria Tuesday 68-61.

Everyone in Hancock is in action this weekend. In addition to the aforementioned MV game against HH, New Palestine travels to New Castle on Saturday, while Eastern Hancock visits Frankton the same day. Greenfield-Central hosts Whiteland Friday night. Our next Game of the Week broadcast will feature New Palestine at Eastern Hancock at 7:10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4.