MOORE — It’s about to get real busy for the Lions. And, according to coach John Martin, that is the way they want it.
“I think our team is energized right now,” Martin said. “They love to play games. We have a whole bunch coming up in future.”
After almost two weeks without playing a game due to weather concerns, the Moore High boys are scheduled to get in four this week alone.
The Lions’ week started Tuesday with a trip to Enid High School. It will conclude with three games in three days at their own John Noble Classic.
MHS will open the round-robin play with a matchup with Western Heights at 1 p.m. Thursday, then Choctaw JV at 5:30 p.m. Friday. Their final game will be 1 p.m. Saturday against NW Classen.
MHS also was able to reschedule the two games it canceled during the winter storm. That includes a Feb. 3 matchup at Norman High School and Midwest City at MHS Feb. 17. That will add to an already busy calendar.
“I think in the next three weeks we will have as many games as practices,” Martin said.
With such a rigorous schedule it doesn’t leave much time for the Lions to learn new plays. But Martin said that is normal.
“This late in the season we are just trying to polish things,” Martin said. “We want to get better at one thing a day. We will not go as long. Reviewing a lot more than put things in. That is what preseason is for.”
While the Lions (3-7) will not be adding much more, they will be trying to improve what they do now. Which for Martin means getting better defensively, which he says is the key to turning around the season.
The Lions defensive pressure starts with its backcourt leader, Blake James. As a junior he was the team’s best defender and he is beginning to regain his form.
“Our guards are pressuring the ball better,” Martin said. “James has really elevated his defense the last couple of games. That is what sets him apart from a lot of players. He can defend any body on the perimeter. The guys look to him to set the tone defensively.”
Beginning this week, Moore has 12 games left in the regular season. Despite its sub .500 record, they believe they still can make a postseason run.
But, according to Martin, it will take everything the entire team has to make the transformation.
“I would like to see, whether we win or lose, that we play hard the entire game,” Martin said. “At least we can play hard and give us a better chance of winning. I think most coaches would say that. I don’t know if they actually mean it. We have to play 32 minutes if we want to change the season around. And it is possible.”
Local Sports
Related Photos
January 25, 2007
Lions ready to return
Long lay-off fuels fire
- Local Sports
-
-
Moore’s Morales brings the heat
Mikayla Morales used to get stressed out a lot.
The Moore hurler would get nervous before big games and wouldn’t be able to perform at her best. -
Moore eliminated from tourney
Moore, who came into the day undefeated in this tournament, was eliminated from the End of Season Tournament on Friday after unraveling in back-to-back games.
The Sabercats scored seven runs in the top of the third, and devoured two Moore pitchers during the inning, in a 9-2 final at Tull Lake Field. -
Another fourth quarter collapse for MHS
In the early going this season, the Moore High boys have had one nagging problem. They have been unable to close out games in the fourth quarter. Close losses to Westmoore and Norman North bear this out.
-
Moore gets first win
After his 34-yard field goal with 1 second left on the clock gave Moore a 29-26 victory over rival Southmoore, Sheldon was hoisted on his teammates’ shoulders and carried for about five seconds.
- Warren Theater to show OU-Texas game
- Oklahoma City man dies in Moore traffic accident
- OSA hosts 18th annual workshop The Oklahoma Soccer Association looks to change that as they will recotgnize Robert Muzny and others during the OSA 18th annual workshop Feb. 1-3 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Tulsa.
- Creating a Moore War triangle The Sabercats will be joining what was already a fierce rivalry between Moore and Westmoore. But according to Jensen, it will be some time before the Cats can claim a piece of Moore War.
- Getting his call More than a decade before anyone had even had serious talks about the creation of the school district’s third high school, Jensen knew would be running its football program.
- Jags rally to beat Moore As the temperatures inside made the packed house feel like a steambath, the two teams matched the rising heat for three quarters.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
