MICDS meets Parkway South in boys action at the Coaches vs. Cancer event

MICDS has been a leader in the area in the Coaches Vs. Cancer cause.

“MICDS was the first team in the St. Louis area to host a ‘Paint it Pink’ game and has raised more money for Coaches vs. Cancer than any high school in the St. Louis area,” MICDS Coach Matt Hixenbaugh said. “Both myself and Don Maurer (MICDS’ athletic director) are members of the Coaches vs. Cancer Committee. Our entire school gets behind the cause and it is viewed as important enough for the entire school to miss school for the day to attend the game and raise money and awareness for cancer research.”

MICDS will play Parkway South in a high school boys basketball at 11 a.m. in Thursday’s (Jan. 26) annual American Cancer Society Coaches vs. Cancer Shootout presented by Ameren Missouri.

The Coaches vs. Cancer initiative provides education and prevention information to basketball fans nationwide and invites fans to join with their local coach in support of the program.

Eight games, including two girls contests, will be played throughout the day, with the first game starting at 9:30 a.m. and the final contest at 8:30 p.m.

Here is the complete schedule:
* 9:30 a.m. — Westminster Christian Academy vs. MICDS (girls)
* 12:30 p.m. — Belleville East vs. Belleville West
* 2:15 p.m. — Alton Marquette vs. Glenbard East
* 3:45 p.m. — Webster Groves vs. McCluer
* 5:30 p.m. — St. Joseph’s Academy vs. Bolingbrook (girls)
* 7:00 p.m. — Vianney vs. Cardinal Ritter
* 8:30 p.m. — Soldan vs. Riverside Academy

Hixenbaugh said his club is excited to return to play this year.

“It is a great opportunity for our guys to get experience in a different environment for a great cause,” Hixenbaugh said. “We are fortunate to have been asked to participate in each of the three years of the event. It is exciting to play a quality team in a great atmosphere as well as creating lifelong memories for our players.”

Getting the chance to compete in a big area will be good for his Rams, Hixenbaugh said.

“Playing at Scottrade will be a challenge but hopefully a learning experience for the future. Fortunately, we have played at Chaiftez the past two years and I coached in the old Shootout at Scottrade when I was at Winter Park, Fla., so I hope we know what we are getting ourselves into and how to properly prepare.”

Hixenbaugh said there are really no adjustments needed to playing in a such a big arena.

“The game is still a game, the opposition is good and the shooting environment is different but the biggest issue for us is taking advantage of the opportunity to grow as a team,” Hixenbaugh said.

MICDS and Parkway South are not common opponents.

“In the six years I have been at MICDS. We have not played Parkway South so this will be a new experience and quite the challenge,” Hixenbaugh said. “We are familiar with them since they have been in our Holiday Tournament but haven’t matched up with them.”

MICDS is 11-5. The Rams have won six of their last seven games, with the lone loss coming to Westminster Christian Academy.

Parkway South is 12-5. The Patriots are playing in the Ameritech Classic this week at Missouri Baptist. Parkway South defeated DeSoto on Monday and played DeSmet on Wednesday night. The Patriots will play Friday night for either third place or in the title game depending on what happened in the DeSmet game.

The Rams have a play to be successful in against Parkway South.

“We think making them earn points in the half court and rebounding are essential to us being competitive,” Hixenbaugh said. “We know they are bigger and stronger than us so we want to make it a game of skill- dribbling, passing and shooting.”

Overall, Hixenbaugh said he is happy with how the season is going for MICDS.

“Our team is improving and gaining an identity,” Hixenbaugh said. “We have developed some continuity in regard to the roles of our players and have become fairly flexible. We have got off to a solid start in our league and believe we have the potential to improve down the final stretch of the year.”