Now they want to play for high stakes.
“We’ve had good practice games and good practices,” head coach Randy Jones said. “We’re ready to go.”
The Bulldogs and the Hornets square off at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Post High School, and Ira will have to contend with a big inside presence and a solid perimeter game from fourth-ranked Aspermont.
Jones said the Bulldogs are very comparable to the Hornets.
“They have two good perimeter players and a 6-5 post,” he said. “We can match up with their guards and hold their perimeter players in check, and Jake (Barnes) matches up with any post player. I’ll put our five against their five, but if they are shooting well from the perimeter, they are going to be tough to beat -- but it’s hard to live and die on the perimeter.”
Ira got a scare during Saturday’s practice game with Benjamin, as Barnes sprained his ankle in the second period.
Jones said he expects Barnes to be ready Tuesday, but would lean heavily on post Bryan Proctor in the event Barnes is sidelined.
Both clubs would play sticky man defense, which Jones thinks will ultimately decide the contest.
“There’s no question this game will be won or lost on defense,” he said. “We’re going to try to be in their faces -- I don’t want them to have any open looks.”
Jones said the Bulldogs (12-9, 7-3) have had a good year, overcoming several obstacles along the way.
“It’s been a good year,” he said. “We’ve played and worked hard and had a lot of adversity early on.”
Jones said the resiliency of his club would determine how far they go in the postseason.
“It’s going to come down to how we handle adversity,” he said. “We’ve been through tough times and picked ourselves up off the floor. These kids are competitors and winners, and once you make the playoffs it’s all gravy. You get a few breaks and get hot at the right time and anything can happen.”
Jones said the Bulldogs are still looking for their best game.
“We haven’t peaked,” he said. “We haven’t had all five players playing their best at the same time. Hopefully that will happen Tuesday.”