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MC looking forward to ‘full-filling’ Thanksgiving

Head coach Jon VanderWal and his Marietta College men’s basketball team had a long trip back from Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., Tuesday night.

The journey itself was about 180 miles and took close to three hours.

And, after the 11th-ranked Pioneers (4-1) lost to the unranked Bearcats, 85-80, in overtime Tuesday night, it might have been a relatively quiet one.

Marietta had a seven-point advantage with under a minute to play in regulation against SVC but was unable to protect the lead and close the deal. Losing point Dillon Young, who fouled out late in the game, hurt as the Pioneers had a little trouble with Saint Vincent’s full court press.

It happens.

It also can age a coach prematurely. But VanderWal’s a young man without any noticeable gray hair.

No question about it, though, coaching is a tough business with so many ups and downs during a season. Fortunately, VanderWal has had more of the former than the latter.

Last Saturday, MC downed No. 6 and visiting Catholic University of America, 92-90. Then, the navy blue and white cagers went on the road and fell to 2-1 Saint Vincent, a team they defeated in the 2014 Shrine Tournament final at Ban Johnson Arena.

But of course that was last year.

The Pioneers didn’t arrive back in Washington County until after midnight. On the return trip, many of the guys might have slept, listened to music on their earphones, or maybe thought about having a “full-filling” Thanksgiving Holiday with family and friends.

Ah, nothing like a plate of turkey, stuffing, and squash to chase a difficult loss away.

Maybe watching a little NFL football on the tube will help them forget about the basketball wars for a little while.

Then, there’s Ohio State at Michigan on this Saturday.

Will the Urban Meyer-coached Buckeyes bounce back after suffering their first setback of the football campaign to the Michigan State Spartans last Saturday?

Wonder who VanderWal, being from the state of Michigan, will be rooting for?

The MC coach of course will still have basketball on his mind and film to watch.

Marietta is not scheduled to play its next game until Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., in its Ohio Athletic Conference opener against visiting Muskingum University.

The coach will think of something. He always has, and the Pioneers will definitely be pumped and ready to go against the Fighting Muskies.

Hey, it’s still early in the season with a lot of basketball left to be played.

Not even Saint Vincent is going to spoil the MC men’s basketball Thanksgiving.

Ron Johnston is a Marietta Times sports writer, and can be reached at (740) 373-2121, x534, or at rjohnston@mariettatimes.com

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