Basketball Game Preview: Lutheran Cougars vs. Hazelwood West Wildcats

A feisty cat fight is on tap when the Lutheran Cougars take on the Hazelwood West Wildcats at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday... One thing working in Lutheran's favor is that they have posted at least 55 points in their last three matchups.

If Lutheran beats Hazelwood West with 58 points on Thursday, it's going to be the squad's new lucky number: they've won their past two games with that exact score. Lutheran pulled ahead with a 58-57 photo finish over Kirkwood on Friday.

Meanwhile, Hazelwood West was not able to break out of their rough patch on Tuesday as the team picked up their fourth straight loss. They came up short against Parkway South, falling 56-33. While losing is never fun, the Wildcats can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Missouri basketball rankings (they are ranked 326th, while the Patriots are ranked 75th).

Lutheran's victory ended an 11-game drought on the road dating back to last season and puts them at 4-12. As for Hazelwood West, their defeat dropped their record down to an identical 4-12.