The first conference game of the season rarely carries huge implications for a team’s identity. But when Middle Creek (8-0, 1-0) downed Green Hope (6-2, 0-1) 74-64 in their Tri-Eight opener Dec. 18, Middle Creek coach David Kushner wasn’t hesitant to acknowledge the significance of the home win.

“It’s huge,” Kushner said. “To get this game out of the way early and to win one early on our home court is really big down the road. In this league you have to win your home court games, and being able to do that in our first conference game is big.”

Green Hope jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter, leading 20-15 at the end of the first in an up-tempo shootout.

Despite trailing early, Kushner said the Mustangs wanted to keep the game fast-paced and push the ball, and some early Green Hope foul trouble allowed Middle Creek to dominate the second quarter. Middle Creek allowed only three Green Hope points in the second quarter and led 30-23 at halftime behind a balanced scoring attack that quickly turned Green Hope misses and turnovers into easy baskets.

“Coming out we wanted the game to be up and down,” Kushner said. “We’ve had a lot of low-scoring games with them in the past. The game in the first quarter was probably too much up and down, we gave up some easy baskets, but at least the pace was what we wanted.”

Green Hope rallied in the third quarter to cut the lead to one point going into the fourth, where Middle Creek went on a final run to close the game. Despite some fourth quarter heroics from Green Hope guard Steven Edwards, who finished with a game-high 25 points, the Mustangs held off the Falcons. The home crowd was brought to its feet as Middle Creek forward Nelson Kirksey threw down his second emphatic dunk of the fourth quarter as time expired.

Green Hope coach Mickey Bissette said he was proud of his team’s effort, despite the outcome.

“They kept battling, and that’s all I could ask of them,” Bissette said. “We played a good basketball team on the road, on their home court, and they’re going to beat a lot of people this year. They’re talented [and] they’re veterans.”

According to Middle Creek center Brian Proulx, Middle Creek’s ability to run the floor and force teams to play up-tempo gives the Mustangs an edge that wasn’t there in seasons past.

“Coach always tells us that defense will lead to offense,” Proulx said. “We tried to keep the tempo up. We’re a faster team than last year. Last year we tried to slow it down and feed the post; this year we’re trying to get the ball up as fast as we can and keep them out of their slow-paced tempo.”

Things won’t get much easier for the Falcons, as they faced 8-1 Panther Creek Friday (results not available at press time).

The win puts Middle Creek at a perfect 8-0 and at the top of the Tri-Eight conference. Because it’s so early in the season, the team is confident but knows not to get cocky, Proulx said.

“Coming in No. 1, we had to show that we’re actually No. 1, and that we’re not overrated by getting a big win over Green Hope and showing that we’re for real,” Proulx said. “We’re really confident, but we’ve got to keep our composure and take every game seriously. We want to have that confidence but we don’t want to get cocky.”