Basketball Game Preview: Nansemond-Suffolk Academy Saints vs. Warhill Lions

The Nansemond-Suffolk Academy Saints will face off against the Warhill Lions at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. Nansemond-Suffolk Academy knows how to get points on the board -- the team has finished with 55 points or more in their past nine contests -- so hopefully Warhill likes a good challenge.

Last Thursday, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy came up short against Portsmouth Christian and fell 70-61. That's two games in a row now that the Saints have lost by exactly nine points.

Nansemond-Suffolk Academy's defeat shouldn't obscure the performances of Madden Gilliatt, who dropped a double-double on 18 points and 13 rebounds, and Noah Cannon, who posted 16 points in addition to eight rebounds and four steals. Gilliatt's evening made it three games in a row in which he has scored at least ten points. Another player making a difference was KJ Pidgeon, who had 14 points.

Even though they lost, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 20 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least nine offensive boards in eight consecutive matchups.

Meanwhile, after a string of five wins, Warhill's good fortune finally ran out on Friday. They fell 57-49 to Grafton. The loss was a bit of a surprise, as the Lions came into the game with a sizable advantage in MaxPreps' Virginia basketball rankings (they are ranked 112th, while the Clippers are ranked 253rd).

Warhill's loss ended a three-game streak of wins at home and dropped them to 7-3. As for Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, they now have a losing record at 4-5.