MID MICHIGAN MEN’S HOOPS HAS BUSY WEEK AHEAD
Lakers host Scots today, take on No. 2 Mott Friday
There’s snow on the ground, thus it must be basketball season right?
Right.
The 2021-22 prep basketball season opened around the state of Michigan Monday with girls basketball tipping off. Next week the boys follow suit.
College-wise basketball has been up and running for about a month now with the Central Michigan Chippewas, Alma College Scots and Mid Michigan College Lakers having all already played about a half dozen games apiece.
On Wednesday evening two of these local programs meet in a doubleheader from Morey Courts as Mid Michigan hosts Alma College’s JV teams. The Lakers play all of their home games at Morey Courts.
As it stands the Mid Michigan women host Alma College at 5:30 p.m. while the men’s game is slated for 7:30 p.m. Both games are free to attend and should offer up some solid early-season hoops action.
The past two seasons have collectively played out in fits and starts at every level as the 2019-20 season was cut short and then cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, the 2020-21 season started late because of the same.
This year things have returned to normal with fans in the stands and games playing out as scheduled. That’s only part of the story though. The other part is what’s up with the teams?
On paper Kaleb House and his Mid Michigan men are off to a good start at 3-2 heading into Wednesday’s non-conference contest. Collectively, the Lakers are just happy to be playing basketball right now as they didn’t open the 2020-21 until last February and only played 13 games.
So what’s the story with the Lakers this winter?
Well, the main story this week is this is a big week for Mid Michigan as it hosts Alma College today before traveling downstate to take on second-ranked Mott Friday
and a to-be-determined opponent Saturday. That’s three games in four days.
“It’s a big week for us,” said House, who’s in his 10th season at Mid Michigan. “Right now we’re defending pretty well, but our offense really hasn’t found its rhythm yet.”
Through five games the Lakers have hung their hat on the defensive end as they have held two of their five opponents under-65 points. Expect more of the same going forward while the offense comes along.
“This could be the best defensive team I have coached,” House added.
Offensively-speaking freshmen Noah Pruitt and Satchel Love have led the way as Pruitt averages 17.6 points per game while Love averages 11 points and eight boards. Experience-wise third-year sophomores Tim Steward (8.8 ppg, 6 rpg), Isaac Hungerford (7.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg), TJ Raedy and Henrique Andrade have all played a ton of basketball and will be leaned upon heavily this season.