Today, we continue our coverage of Tuesday's WRAL Game of the Week. The match-up will feature a rivalry game, between the Apex Cougars and the Middle Creek Mustangs. Both teams, along with Cary, are tied for first in the Tri-Eight Conference, and this game could have a regular season title on the line.

Coach David Kushner (Middle Creek) took some time to answer some questions about the game, the rest of the season, and what his team can do in the playoffs.

1. Your team has beaten Apex once this season, but lost to them in the Glaxo. Are these teams evenly matched, or is one team better than the other?
I think these two teams are evenly matched. Each team has a senior that has been one of the best players in the area for a couple of years, and the players that do not get as much press for both teams are more than capable of putting up big numbers on any given night. Apex has won the past two league titles, and I think their experience has helped them to once again have an outstanding team.

2. What advantages will you have over Apex on Tuesday night? What advantages will Apex have over you?
At this point in the season after playing each other twice, I don't know that either team has much of an advantage. The winning team will be the one that takes care of the ball and rebounds more effectively. Apex's experience in big games and Yorel's ability to come up big in those games is probably their biggest advantage. Our home court would probably be our only advantage.

3. Marcus Kitts is usually the player that people think about when they talk about Middle Creek, but you have had other players step up this season. Among others, Kip Kelley, Garrius Adams, and Mike Frongello have all made great contributions this season. What roles do each of those players play on your team, game in and game out?
Marcus was playing hurt from the second game of the season until about three games ago, and because of this I think it forced our other players to step their own games up. Kip Kelley has done a nice job of taking care of the ball for us and has been shooting it better lately, Garrius is becoming one of the better players in the league on offense and defense, and Mike has done a nice job handling the ball and being vocal on a team that needs to have more vocal players.

4. Kip Kelley may be one of the fastest point guards in the Tri-Eight Conference. Do you use this to your advantage? If so, how?
We try to push the ball up the court, but in the majority of our games teams have played sagging zone defenses and they have done a good job of negating some of Kip's quickness by keeping him out of the lane. I would like to see us play faster than we have been, but I am more concerned with us cutting down our turnovers.

5. When teams play Apex, it is almost impossible to shut Yorel Hawkins down. Hawkins had 39-points against your team in the Glaxo, a career high for him. Will you focus on limiting his scoring, or limiting the scoring of other players?
When Apex wins big games they usually have more than one player in double figures. When Yorel had the big game against us, Feidler also had 16pts. We need to make Yorel work extremely hard for his points, but more importantly, not allow his teammates to have big games.

6. Many people, including myself, see the matchup between these two teams as the Tri-8 Regular Season Conferece Championship. Do you agree with that statement?
I think there is a lot of basketball left to be played. Cary beat us in every facet of the game when we played them so in no way do I think they are thinking about third place. Tuesday's game is very important, but we both still have to play Cary so I think it will be a three team race to the end.

7. Other than the three teams tied for first place - Cary, Apex, and Middle Creek - what teams in the Tri-8 do you see as a threat come playoff time?
I still think Green Hope will be an extremely tough out for anyone that has to play them in the post season. Fuquay always pulls an upset or two during the second half of the season, so I would not want to be matched up with them in the conference tournament either.

8. Middle Creek is undefeated at home this season, and will finish the last six games with five straight home games. How much of an impact do the Creek Crazies have during ball games? Do you think the Cougar Crazies will have an impact on Tuesday Night?
I have been thrilled this year to see the enthusiasm from our students for our team. I think we have the loudest fans in the area, and I am sure they will give us a lot of energy for our five game home stretch. Apex has an excellent student section as well, and if the game is anything like it was the first time, there will be a playoff type atmosphere in the gym.

9. Marcus Kitts will graduate after this season, but the future looks bright for Middle Creek. For example, Kip Kelley and Garrius Adams have made significant contributions this season - Kip is a Junior and Garrius is a sophomore. Will Middle Creek continue to be a conference power even after Marcus is gone?
I think we will continue to compete well with the other teams in our league for the next couple of years, but at this point that is a long ways away so I don't really give it much thought.

10. Although coaches don't like to look ahead, what are your hopes for the state tournament? The Tri-8 get's No. 1 seed priority this season, which would translate into three home games.
Obviously I am hoping we can play well enough to have the one seed for the tournament, but this will be our first year ever in the state playoffs and I am just thankful to finally have a chance to go to the playoffs. Wherever we play and whoever we play is not as important as just playing our best basketball. If we play our best basketball I think we have a good chance to win some games in the state tournament.