The Medora boys basketball team has grown a lot since the start of the season, and the Hornets are going to need to take all of that improvement into tonight’s sectional semifinal game against West Washington at Edinburgh High School.

These two teams met earlier this year on Jan. 18, and West Washington won the game 60-34.

Medora got off to a good start in the game, though, and the Senators tipped in a shot at the buzzer to end the first quarter, but Medora had a 14-12 lead. The Hornets then fell down by eight points going into halftime.

“We did compete in the first half, and then they kind of opened it up on us in the second half,” head coach Mark Morin said. “We need to get off to a good start. We can’t get down early. We’ve got to block out and not give up a lot of offensive rebounds, and we can’t turn the ball over.”

Medora has done a much better job of handling the press that most teams use against them. Against Crothersville, the Hornets were able to have success breaking the Tigers’ zone press.

However, West Washington used a man-to-man press in the first meeting, and that poses a bit of a different challenge.

“We have done a better job of handling pressure,” Morin said. “If they use that man press again, it’s on our guards to get the ball up the floor, and sometimes, that’s where we struggle.”

The Hornets (4-19) also have done better on the defensive side of the ball, typically running a zone to try to stifle its opponents.

“We’ve become more aggressive out of it,” Morin said. “We’ve trapped some in the last few games. We’ve really done a good job of covering the court and trying to get a hand up on shooters.”

The biggest problem is blocking out of the zone, which Morin said the Hornets have been working on in practice during the past week.

The Hornets are led in scoring by Shepard Earl, who is averaging 15.8 points per game. Next up is Braxton McCory at 13.3 ppg.

“Shepard cannot pick up a couple early fouls,” Morin said. “Hopefully, we can establish him on the inside early because that opens things up on the outside.”

Morin said he can’t think of a game where Earl and McCory have played well in the same game together. He remembers it’s either Earl scoring 20 and McCory getting eight or vice versa. For Medora to get a win Friday night, the Hornets are going to need both of those players on their A game.

“We need their best game at the same time tomorrow night,” Morin said. “Hopefully, they’re due.”

The Hornets and Senators are scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m. at Edinburgh High School. Tickets will be on sale at the door for $6. Crothersville and Edinburgh will follow Medora’s game, and the winner of both of those contests will meet in the sectional championship game at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.