The high school basketball season gets into full swing tonight around te state as the boys season begins.
This is the furst season the schedule features 22 regular-season games, up from the traditional 20.
And, for the Howell program, tonight features a rare opportunity to see both the Highlanders girls and boys play in the same gym.
Both will be at Williamston tonight. The girls (2-0) play zt 5:30, followed by the boys’ season opener at around 7 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on The Livingston Post starting at 5:20 p.m. Click here for a link to the live broadcst of either game.
Both teams are expecting a challenge. The Hornets girls program has been strong the oast few seasons, while the Howell boys take on the defending Division 2 state champions.
“I htink it’s probably a good thing that it’s the first game for both teams,” Howell boys coach Nick Simon said. “We’ve had games in the past where the opposing team had already played game or we had, and I think that’s a decided advantage. I think both teams will probably have a little bit of nerves going in.”
Both team were hit hard by graduation.
“I’m intrigued to see how our guys respond in a tough environment against a team that has been a consistent winner in the state for a while now,” Simon said. “Even going back before last year, they’ve been very, very good. I’m excited to see how we respond to that.”
The Highlander girls, meanwhile, are coming off a dominating 65-25 win over Fenton in last Friday’s home opener, a game that saw Howell increase its scoring total in each of the first three periods before coach Tim Olszewski clear the bench in the fourth quarter. Click here for the archived broadcast.
Howell had balanced scoring, with four players in double figures.
“Offensively, we have the ability to score in bunches,” Olszewski said. “We have a lot of different weapons. We have lot of girls who can attack and shoot, and it’s one of the better offensive teams we’ve had in awhile, in terms of being able to score.”
The Howell coach also is looking forward to the challenge he expects from the Hornets.
“We know they have one of their really good offensive players from last year,” Olszewski said. “They’re extremely well-coached. They’re disciplined. They’ll be gritty and tough, just like we are, and we anticipate it will be a battle.”
