11/18/2009
Blazers Tested By Vikes
Reprinted with permission from The News Dispatch

Ken Peterson
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - After spending more than a week scrimmaging against one another, getting an opportunity to compete against someone in a different uniform was a welcome sight for the Marquette boys basketball team Tuesday night at The Scholl Center.

While no official score was kept, the Blazers were able to win three of the five 12-minute quarters that featured a running clock.

It was one of two options the IHSAA gives high schools when a scrimmage is scheduled.

In Tuesday's format, the teams were allowed one time out in each of the five quarters.

A running clock was used in the first 11 minutes and no free throws were shot until the final minute of each quarter. The clock did stop in the final minute on a dead ball.

There were four-minute breaks in between quarters and the score was kept during each quarter, but was reset at the start of the next quarter. Substitutions were allowed at any time during a dead ball.

Both Hawkins and Hebron coach Brenda Drook got a chance to work on different looks the teams will face throughout the season. The first quarter, each team could only play man-to-man half-court defense, the second quarter was halfcourt zone defense. The third quarter, full-court defense was allowed and the final two quarters were coach's choice on defense.

But there was one noticeable difference between the two teams.

Hebron showed up in its red traveling uniforms while Marquette wore its practice jerseys with numbers written on the back, something coach Jason Hawkins did for a purpose.

"The biggest thing is the pride in the school," said Hawkins, who is asking his players to learn the little known Marquette school song. "We are what we do. If we want to be excellent, it has to be a habit. It means something and the guys are learning that and they are learning to take pride in Marquette."

Sixteen of the 18 players in the program got to play. The Blazers were without Tyler Jones, who was sick, and Cole Frageman, who is still out with a knee injury he sustained during soccer season.

The Blazers won the opening quarter 13-8 and dominated the second on both ends of the floor in winning 20-8.

"They showed effort," Hawkins said. "In the second quarter, you saw an all-out effort. Defense is pride."

Hebron won the third quarter 17-13 and the teams played to a 6-all tie in the fourth and Marquette took the final quarter 13-6. All totaled, Marquette was a 65-45 winner.

Hawkins liked the effort of all of his players, but was especially pleased with the showing by Tucker Miller, Joey Przybylinski, Mat Johnson, and junior varsity players Andrew Espar and Randall Martin.

The third-year coach also talked about letting his seniors know that this is their last season of high school and expecting them to give maximum effort.

"It's about the moment," he said.

The two teams will meet in January at Hebron.

"By the time we play them, both teams will be different," Hawkins said.