By TYLER HENRY
Little Apple Post contributor
With just three games remaining in the regular season, the Chapman and Rock Creek boys’ basketball teams will square off in St. George on Tuesday night, looking to set their footing before sub-state.
The Mustangs come into this contest at 9-7 while the Irish enter at 4-13, looking to snap a three-game losing streak.
Chapman has seen considerable improvement over the course of the season, and has taken a big step forward from a winless 2021-22 campaign, but is still in search of a big win or two down the stretch to bolster their confidence.
“Guys have competed and played hard throughout whole games,” Irish head coach Drew Gruver said. “We need to continue to compete for 32 minutes in each game. We’ve made big strides throughout the season, the next step for us now is to make plays at the end of games so we can win.”
On the other side of this matchup, Rock Creek will continue to seek out more consistency after an up and down stretch that has seen the Mustangs split their last six games.
“We have had times when I feel like we can beat anyone and times when I feel like we could get beat by anyone,” Mustang head coach Justin Smith said. “We still have yet to play well consistently through a whole game.”
In order to take down a very strong Rock Creek squad, it will be paramount that the Irish handle the speed and pressure posed by a Mustang defense that has wrecked opposing game plans at times this season.
“They like to press and play fast,” Gruver said. “They have a lot of outside scoring threats, and they like to penetrate and kick for three-point shots. We will have to handle their press, not get beat off the dribble, and guard the three-point line tonight.
This will also be a big game for the Mustangs, who will spend their final three games on the road at Silver Lake, Onaga, and Rossville.
“[Chapman] has really improved over the year,” Smith said. “They have some kids that can score and have gotten a lot better defensively. They’ve got a good post player and some shooters so we have to be able to guard all areas of the floor.”
Tip-off between the Irish and Mustangs is set for 7:30 at Rock Creek High School following the girl's game at 6:00.
For continuing coverage of all four teams all season long, stay tuned to the Salina and Little Apple Posts.