A Cold Wind, a Hot Gym: Preview of the Polar Bears vs. Huskies
Strong winds out of the north this morning may be a harbinger of the Metro boys’ basketball clash scheduled for tonight at Hoover. Maybe they should play the game outdoors. Huskies and Polar Bears are cold weather critters, right?
In the wild, yes, but these are two hot and well-trained basketball teams we’re talking about and the big crowd their matchup is sure to draw would rather shout than shiver. So better get there early if you want to see this battle for boys’ hoops supremacy up close and personal.
North enters tonight’s game at 5-0 in conference play with Hoover and Roosevelt both nipping at their heels at 4-1. All three teams are shaping up to be among the best in the state this season. The most recent AP basketball has the Polar Bears ranked 7th in Class 4A; both the Huskies and the Roughriders have been among the top ten this year.
North’s explosive attack features lots of T ‘n T but Teyontae Jenkins and Terrence Bush have a firecracker supporting cast and their 20/20 vision of the school’s first state tourney berth since 1991 is coming into focus on the horizon.
Meanwhile, Hoover is back at full strength after beginning the season with a depleted roster and comes into the game with only one conference loss, looking to draw even in the Metro standings.
The North and Hoover rosters read like a Who’s Who of individual state stat rankings midway through the season.
Jenkins and Bush are both among the top five scorers in Class 4A, averaging 20+ per game apiece. And Bush is also among the leaders in rebounds and steals while Jenkins ranks as the most generous teammate in the state at 6.2 assists per game. Defensively, Sam Williams is the top shot-blocker with a total of 26 on the season.
Hoover features Chris King who’s right behind Jenkins and Bush at 20.1 points per game and Malacahi Canada who’s sweeping the boards to the tune of 10.7 rebounds per game, good for 3rd in the state.
The home team’s been a fixture in recent years at or near the top of the league. But the Polar express rolls into the gym tonight looking to put a chill in the Huskie title hopes. This one has all the makings of a surefire shootout.
Tipoff is at 7:45 PM at Hoover.
