MAC Boys Basketball Game of the Week Preview

This week’s MAC Game of the Week was perhaps one of the easiest choices of the season.  The Fort Recovery Indians and Delphos St. John’s Blue Jays, who each sit at 6-1 in the conference, will butt heads on Friday night in Fort Recovery, with the winner grabbing the upper hand in the 2012 Midwest Athletic Conference title race.  The two squads and New Bremen all tied for the conference trophy two seasons ago, but neither has been sole champion since St. John’s in 2004-05.  The Indians last owned the league crown by themselves in 1999. 

Fort Recovery enters Friday’s battle following two straight wins last weekend – a 51-31 pasting over Marion Local on Friday night and a 69-23 blasting over Greenville on Saturday.  They are currently 15-2 overall with their lone losses coming to Walnut Ridge a few weeks back in the Flyin’ to the Hoop showcase, and to St. Henry two weeks ago on Friday night.  St. John’s started off a little slow do to their success in football, but they have been playing better as they get their basketball legs under them,” observed Fort Recovery head coach Brian Patch.  “Coach Elwer does a great job with them and I am sure they will be prepared, as will we - this is what both teams have been working hard for all year. They play great man-to-man defense and do all the little things it takes to win big games.”

After a ten-point loss to Edgerton on January 21, the Blue Jays have rattled off five consecutive victories, including a 60-36 league win over Parkway last weekend.  Their lone loss in the conference also came to St. Henry, but was back on January 13.  The Jays, who average 53.1 points per game, have won four straight league fights since then and this Friday will look to avenge their two-point loss to the Indians from a season ago.  “In conference games the past two weeks, we went on the road and beat a good New Bremen team, as Curtis Geise (12.4 ppg) hit a shot with two seconds to go, and last Friday at home we played pretty well and beat Parkway to move to 6-1 in the MAC,” St. John’s head coach Aaron Elwer explained.  “This week, we travel to Fort Recovery fully aware of the level of talent, skill, and athletic ability which they have.  They are having a great year and are very well-coached.  We will have to play our best basketball to be successful on the road in a difficult place to play, but we are excited about the opportunity that we have and look forward to the challenge that is in front of us.” 

By Robb Hemmelgarn