Marysville High School’s Bodie Eberhart hits a jumper against Westerville North. After spending the majority of the season’s first half on the road, the Monarchs will remain at home for most of the final portion of the season.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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One of the more memorable lines from the classic film “The Wizard of Oz” is when Dorothy keeps repeating, “There’s no place like home.”
For a good portion of the flick, Judy Garland’s character wasn’t “in Kansas anymore.”
The boys basketball team from Marysville High School might have felt the same way over the past month, since most of its first-half regular season games were played away from its home gym.
The Monarchs have posted a 5-6 record in 11 games so far this season, with eight of those contests played out of town.
MHS, however, opened a six-game home stand with Tuesday’s contest against Westerville North.
The stretch continues tonight when the Monarchs will host (weather permitting) Hilliard Davidson in an Ohio Capital Conference Central Division clash.
Marysville coach Ryan Grose said the caliber of competition during the first half of the season, and not the game locations, has presented more of a challenge for his team.
“I don’t think having so many road games at the start of the season bothered the guys too much,” he said. “Several of them, including a very competitive holiday tournament in West Virginia, came during our Christmas break.”
Since the Monarchs tipped off the campaign with a three-point loss at Hilliard Darby on the last day of November, they have played strong teams such as Olentangy Liberty, Dublin Coffman, Upper Arlington and Westerville North.
Grose said it’s easy for a team to lose its confidence with that stiff of a schedule.
“At times, we haven’t competed the way we’re capable of doing,” said Grose. “We have to battle that.”
Grose said the road games are a result of just how the OCC devised its schedule for this winter.
“We got assigned Olentangy Liberty and Westerville North as cross-over games,” he said. “Those were sandwiched between divisional games against Upper Arlington and Dublin Coffman.”
Even though the road games haven’t been too much trouble, Grose said it’s nice to have a string of home games. That’s especially so since the district has resumed classes following Christmas break.
“This way, we don’t have to worry about catching a bus and traveling,” he said. “The guys can just go to class and then come back in later for a home game.”
The second half of the 22-game regular season will feature seven more home contests.
What is Grose expecting from his squad heading into the turn?
“We still have things to work on, such as moving off the ball, our defensive rotation and finishing plays,” he said.
“If we are also willing to compete and stay aggressive, that will give us an opportunity to win games.”