Preview: Dixie Hornets vs. Ware Shoals Hornets
Dixie and Ware Shoals are an even 5-5 against one another since January of 2018, but not for long. The Dixie Hornets will be playing at home against the Ware Shoals Hornets at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Both teams come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Dixie put the finishing touches on their fourth blowout victory of the season on Tuesday. They took their game at home with ease, bagging a 36-5 win over Thornwell. For those curious, yes, that was the biggest victory Dixie has managed all season.
Dixie can attribute much of their success to Kerri O'Shields, who scored nine points along with five steals, and Jaylia Turner, who scored 11 points along with seven steals. O'Shields hasn't dropped below two steals for six straight games. Georgia Wojtkowski was another key contributor, scoring six points along with eight rebounds and two steals.
Meanwhile, Ware Shoals had to endure a three-game losing streak, but that streak is no more. They breezed by Thornwell at home to the tune of 52-4. That looming 52-4 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for Ware Shoals yet this season.
Ware Shoals' success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Stella Eichorn led the charge by dropping a double-double on 16 points and ten rebounds. Eichorn has been hot recently, having posted eight or more rebounds the last seven times she's played. Another player making a difference was Abby Reyes Romero, who scored nine points.
The win was the third in a row for Dixie, bringing their record for this year to 5-8. They've been dominating during the games in that stretch too, as they've won by an average of 27 points. As for Ware Shoals, their win bumped their record up to 5-10.
Tuesday's matchup is shaping up to be a scrappy game: Dixie have been smashing the glass this season, having only averaged 33.2 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Ware Shoals struggles in that department as they've been averaging only 23.5 rebounds per game. Given Dixie's sizeable advantage in that area, Ware Shoals will need to find a way to close that gap.
Dixie didn't have too much breathing room in their contest against Ware Shoals in their previous matchup back in December of 2023, but they still walked away with a 38-33 win. Will Dixie repeat their success, or does Ware Shoals have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
