By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
With just one game remaining on the 2022-23 regular season calendar, the Chapman and Abilene boys’ basketball teams will take center stage as round two of this rivalry series caps off another campaign.
The Cowboys will enter this game at 10-9 while the Irish come in at 4-15, looking for some late-season momentum ahead of the sub-state tournament next week.
These two first met just before the winter break in a resounding 74-34 win for the then-fourth-ranked Cowboys, but both teams have undergone major changes since then, which could lead to a much more interesting rematch in Chapman.
“Chapman is a completely different team than they were that night,” Abilene head coach Erik Graefe said. “They were still in a hangover from a winless season and they’ve really grown into a good basketball team. I’m hoping our guys put that first game out of their minds because they have some good pieces and they’re playing a lot better.”
That sentiment hasn’t been lost on the Irish either, who will be hungry to repay the favor on their home floor to avoid a sweep at the hands of their biggest rival.
“Abilene sped us up offensively with their press and we turned the ball over a lot which led to them getting a lot of easy baskets,” Chapman head coach Drew Gruver said. “They also shot really well in the first game so we will need to do a better job defending the three-point line.”
While the Cowboys' ability to knock down shots from beyond the arc is still prevalent, Abilene has discovered a new tool on the inside and has started playing more efficiently through the post.
“We struggled all year to find an inside presence and we’re just now figuring out that we have to get the ball into the paint,” Graefe said. “The emergence of Tyler Holloway as a legitimate inside threat has helped and our guys are understanding the value of the inside game.”
On the other side of the matchup, keeping the Cowboys out of transition will be paramount for Chapman, and valuing each possession will go a long way toward a potential upset over a hated league foe.
“We have to handle the press and not get sped up like we did the last game,” Gruver said. “They have an experienced group of players that can hit shots from the outside so we have to defend. We have to play together as a team, and take care of the ball. If we can handle the press and work together to take great shots I think we will have a good chance to win tonight.”
Tip-off between the Irish and Cowboys is set for 7:30 at Chapman High School following the girls’ game at 6:00.
For continuing coverage of all four programs throughout the sub-state tournaments and beyond stay tuned to the Salina Post.