CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The regular season of high school basketball will wrap up on Thursday night for the Rossview Hawks and West Creek Coyotes.
The Hawks will enter Thursday’s district game with only a few hours rest from a Wednesday night showdown with cross town rivals Clarksville High School. The game was originally scheduled for Friday, Feb. 4, but dangerous conditions from the weather caused the game to be postponed five days.
“It was unfortunate that it got canceled,” said Rossview boys basketball coach Johnny Jackson. “I felt like our gym would be packed, but you know playing on a Wednesday now. I really think that no other game is in the city it still will be packed.”
As for West Creek, the Coyotes were looking to play one more non-district game last week against Creek Wood but instead received an extra days rest before their final two district games against Northeast (Tuesday) and Rossview (Thursday).
“Once you get to the last week of the season everybody is dialing into their postseason preparation and playing some one out of district or out of region is just not advantageous for either one of us,” said Russell Malone boys basketball coach at West Creek about trying to make up missed non district games.
Hawks’ road to postseason
It is a tale of two different situations for the boys and girls programs at Rossview, but a chance for both teams to still bring home hardware after this week. The Rossview girls basketball team won on Monday night to improve to 20-2 and remain unbeaten in district play. A win on Wednesday against their rivals at home would give the team an outright regular season district title.
However, the boys are needing a win against the Wildcats on Wednesday and Coyotes on Thursday to claim at least a share of the district crown.
Jackson said, “It’s just mental toughness. You have to have guys who understand that although it’s regular season and championships involved, the real prize is once the tournament comes.”
Coyotes aim for higher seed
The Coyotes will have to play for seeding in the district tournament. With Clarksville and Rossview battling for those top spots, the Coyotes are looking at their final two games and what a win on either day could mean once the tournament starts.
“We are desperately trying to stay out of the four-five game that will be a play-in game to the district, but really a play-in game to the regional tournament, so we want that three seed and have to get one of the next two in order to get that,” said Malone.
Thursday night showdown
The Hawks and Coyotes have already met once this season. Rossview captured that first meeting 92-62 behind great shooting.
“We caught them the other night, we were really hot,” said Jackson about the first meeting. “They always shoot well at their place, and we have to be prepared to guard some players that are experienced.”
On playing Rossview again, Coach Malone said, “From the last game we played, they came out physical and aggressive, and I’m not talking about in a bad way; they were very clean, very quick in the defense sets. They just hit us hard physically.”
The girls will start Thursday night off with a 6 p.m. tip, followed by the boys game from West Creek High School.