From the Sidelines: Who wants it more?
Sports reporter
After three games in the Hillsboro Trojan Classic both Marion High School basketball teams avoided a match-up with Hillsboro.
Unless 2006 has its version of an ice storm Friday, the Warriors and Trojans will hook up at Hillsboro for a Mid-Central Activities Association match-up.
There are some people who already have thrown in the towel. Whether the players have or not I don't know, but some fans have.
I've heard comments like Hillsboro is a basketball town and the Trojans just win. Or Hillsboro has too much swagger and history on the court to be defeated.
Anybody can be beat.
See K-State vs. KU.
Talent-wise the Warriors are slightly behind the Trojans. But if talent won every game there wouldn't be a need to ever play.
Both Warrior teams are close enough in talent to hang with Hillsboro, but they must take the swagger and confidence away from the Trojans.
That's hard to do, especially on their home court.
The first thing that could help: pack the other side of the gym.
It's preaching to the choir, but Warrior fans have to show up for this game. If not, the Trojan fans will drown out any confidence the Warriors had before the game started.
If the crowd is anything like Thursday's home wrestling meet, that problem will be solved.
The second is the players must believe.
At 4-8 neither MHS squad has had a ton to cheer about. Allie Maddox and Toni Gordon have shown flashes of brilliance at times, and the Warrior boys have looked like an undefeated team at times as well.
However, neither team has stayed consistent and their records reflect the inconsistency.
Now is the time to turn it around. At 0-3 in the Mid-Central Activities Association the girls' team can't afford another loss. At 2-1 in the MCAA, the boys have a chance to stay in the hunt with a victory.
Everyone on the Warriors side of the court must believe they can win in order for that to happen.
The Trojans will step on the court not only thinking they will win, but knowing they will win. If the Warriors have the same attitude, all it will come down to is who wants it more.
This Friday could be the turning points for both teams. The time when each player has to look in the mirror and ask his or herself how much they really want it.
The answer for everyone, especially the seniors, has to be "more than anything else they have ever wanted."
If so, both Friday night games should be battles. If not, the Hillsboro basketball tradition continues.
