We took a break from the WRAL Game of the Week this week due to final exams, but we return with a major Tri-Eight matchup between the Apex Cougars and the Middle Creek Mustangs.

Weather permitting, the game will be held on Tuesday January 23 at Middle Creek High School. Tip time is scheduled for approximately 7:30 PM. Of course, there is the possibility of an ice/snow storm on Sunday and Monday, so if there is a schedule change, WRAL High School Hoops will let you know about it. Remember, if Wake County Public Schools are canceled on Tuesday, so is the game. Meanwhile, entertain yourself with our interviews and special coverage leading up to tipoff. Today, we start our coverage with Apex's coach David Neal. Coach Neal already sat down with WRAL High School Hoops once this season - if you'd like to see his previous interview, please click the link to the right. Also to the right, we have a link to the WRAL Weather Center, that way you can get the latest on the threat of Winter Weather prior to the game.

Thanks to Coach Neal for participating in another Q&A Session with WRAL High School Hoops. Here is what Coach Neal had to say...

1. Apex has enjoyed the advantage of having Yorel Hawkins on the team for four years now. Hawkins has put up impressive numbers all season,  including a career high 39-points against Middle Creek in the Glaxo. Does Middle Creek's defense allow Hawkins to score, or is he just going to  score no matter who Apex is playing?
Yorel has played 3 years on the varsity (He played JV his freshman year). He has been a very prolific scorer for us. He reached the 1,000 point mark for his career in the first game of the Glaxo. Fortunately for us, he really got it going in the whole Glaxo tournament (93 points -- 9th best in the tournament's 35 year history) and his hot shooting has carried over into January. In terms of Middle Creek's defense, they pose a serious challenge because of their size in the paint.

2. Other than Hawkins, who do you need to have a big game to ensure a victory over Middle Creek?
We need everyone to play well. We need some other guys to step up and make shots such as Scott Bedoe and Andrew Fiedler. Andrew had a big game for us agaisnt them in the Glaxo scoring 16 points.

3. Do you think the game against Middle Creek in the Glaxo helped your team? Did it help Middle Creek?
I think it definitely helped our team in terms of our confidence. We didn't want to go 0-3 in the Glaxo, we wanted to get a win heading into the month of January when all the games count, and we have won 4 in a row starting with that win. I can't speak for Middle Creek.

4. What is the hardest part about playing Middle Creek?
I just think they have a very balanced and complete team. Their frontcourt is formidable with Kitts and Jones. That puts pressure on our defense because everyone has to be aware of Kitts in the post. Their guards are very solid as well. Garrius Adams is a big-time player that has put up 20 plus both times we played them, and Kip Kelley really hurt us at our place. Elvis Carter is a solid player for them as well that can score.

5. Players from Middle Creek, Apex, Cary, Green Hope, and now Panther Creek all play with each other over the Summer and in AAU. Thus, the players know each other pretty well. Does this have an effect on the gameplan you draw up for those teams?
I don't think so. Our gameplans are based on what we want to do as a team, and how we are going to guard them based on the last 2 times we played those teams. I can't keep us with who knows who from which school, but my players will sometimes give me a heads up on what individual players like to do.

6. There is a lot of hype about the matchup between Apex and Middle Creek, because many see it as the Tri-8 Regular Season Championship  game. Do you see it the same way? Does this add any extra pressure?
I do see it as a huge game for us, but Cary is 7-1 just as much as Middle Creek and we are. Middle Creek's schedule is very favorable from here on out, so I do think there is added pressure for us to win if we want to win the conference regular season.

7. Other than the three teams tied for first place in the conferece - Apex, Middle Creek ,and Cary - who do you see as a dangerous team moving into the playoffs? Why?
Green Hope. They are just a break or two away from being right there with us 3 that are tied for first. We got extrememly fortunate to beat them in our first game, and I know their game against Cary could have gone either way. They get great point guard play form [T.C.] Anderson, and [Daniel] Watts played very well against us. [Tavares] Speaks is a player as well.

8. What is your plan for stopping Garrias Adams and Marcus Kitts on Tuesday night?
We will put our best 2 defenders on them for sure. We've got to keep Adams out of the lane and off the free throw line, and we've got to make sure we always have help on Kitts in the post becasue 1 man can't gurad him down there.

9. Last year, your team beat Green Hope in overtime in the Tri-8 Conference Tournament Championship game. This year, the championship will be played at Green Hope. If you guys met in the championship game again, would the homecourt advantage concern you?
Yes, I would want to be at our place. They had an incredible atmosphere in our game at their place this year. I said it was the loudest gym I had ever been in. So we would love to get that opportunity again to play in that game.

10. Middle Creek is known for their student section, the Creek Crazies. Will the fans play a role in the game on Tuesday?
The Creek Crazies were in full effect at our place in December, so hopefully the Cougar Crazies will respnd this Tuesday night!

Coming up in the next few days, we'll sit down with Middle Creek Coach David Kushner. We'll also have our gameday preview for you, featuring predictions, keys to the game, player interviews, and an interview with the leader of the Creek Crazies. Stay with WRAL.com for prep sports coverage you can count on!