After an eight-game absence, Marist finally got their starting center, senior Jackson Price, back last night. The center came off the bench for the first time this season and, in the Red Foxes’ 75-53 loss to Merrimack, scored two points and one rebound in limited minutes.
“There is no mystery that we missed him on the offensive end. We missed his three-point shooting,” said Marist head coach John Dunne.
Price is one of the most important players on the rosters because of his ability to stretch the floor at the center position. Luckily for the Red Foxes freshman center Tarik Watson rose to the occasion.
Watson stepped into the center role, and although Price and Watson don’t play the center position the same, Watson’s production has been more than Marist the players and staff could have asked for.
“We have a lot of confidence in Tarik Watson,” said Dunne.
Watson has started every game Price has missed and in those nine games averaging just under nine points per game and shooting over 50 percent from the field. Watson symbolized the next-up man-up mentality and showed why he deserves minutes moving forward.
Last night, Watson helped the Red Foxes keep the game close in the first half against Merrimack by scoring in the post against the Warriors’ zone. The freshman had four points on four shots in just over 13 minutes.
Despite Watson’s great play, the loss of Price still hurt Marist. The Red Foxes went 4-4 with him out after one of the best starts in program history. Marist held first place in the MAAC before Price’s injury and now they sit in third place with a must-win game on Saturday to reclaim the No. 2
The Red Foxes felt relieved to get Price back tonight because he stretches the floor well and opens up space for guards Josh Pascarelli and Elijah Lewis. Lewis had 16 points on six-of-nine shooting in last night’s game vs Merrimack.
Pascarelli in particular has faced tougher defense without Price; seemingly all of his touches come with crowds of defenders, resulting in getting the ball out of his hands or forcing tough shots.
Price is one of the better shooters on the team, he ranks second on the team in 3-pointers with 27. His dribble-hand-offs with Pascarelli are a key part of this offense. Price can also put the ball on the floor and drive to the rim, something Marist’s two other centers do not necessarily have in their arsenal.
During Price’s absence, Watson showed coaches how vital he is to the team and possibly earned himself more minutes for this season and next season. This stretch from Watson could potentially earn him the starting center spot next year.
The Red Foxes have one game left and stakes are high in Saturday’s contest vs Mount St Mary’s. If Marist wins, they have the No. 2 seed but with a loss, the Red Foxes stay as the No. 3 seed for Atlantic City.
Edited by Marley Pope
Photo from Kira Crutcher
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