The Henderson Collegiate Pride will challenge the Excelsior Classical Academy Flying Lions at 6:45 p.m. on Friday. Henderson Collegiate is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 51.2 points per game this season.
Having struggled with eight losses in a row, Henderson Collegiate turned things around against Oxford Prep on Friday. They enjoyed a cozy 60-45 win over the Griffins.
| 01/17/25 vs Oxford Prep | 20 |
| 01/14/25 @ Voyager Academy | 8 |
| 12/28/24 vs J.F. Webb | 10 |
| 11/26/24 vs Vance County | 8 |
| 11/22/24 @ Neuse Charter | 12 |
Henderson Collegiate's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Jayson Baskerville, who went 7 of 13 on his way to 20 points. With that strong performance, Baskerville is now averaging an impressive 15.2 points per game. Aden Branche was another key player, going 6 for 12 en route to 14 points and six rebounds.
Meanwhile, Excelsior Classical Academy was within striking distance but couldn't close the gap on Friday as they fell 54-48 to Roxboro Community. The defeat continues a trend for the Flying Lions in their matchups with the Bulldogs: they've now lost three in a row.
Henderson Collegiate will have to contain Hunter Goss as he made an impact in Excelsior Classical Academy's last game. He dropped a double-double on 18 points and 17 boards. Another player making a difference was Shawn Francis-Service, who posted eight points in addition to five rebounds and four steals.
Even though they lost, Excelsior Classical Academy smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 18 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least 13 offensive rebounds in seven consecutive matchups.
Excelsior Classical Academy's loss dropped their record down to 8-6. As for Henderson Collegiate, their win was their first in the conference, bumping their conference record up to 1-3 and their overall record up to 5-11.
Keep an eye on the arc in Friday's contest: Henderson Collegiate has been dynamite from deep this season, having made 67.5% of their three-pointers per game. It's a different story for Excelsior Classical Academy, though, as they've only made 23.4% of their threes this season. Given Henderson Collegiate's sizable advantage in that area, Excelsior Classical Academy will need to find a way to close that gap.
Henderson Collegiate lost to Excelsior Classical Academy at home by a decisive 70-54 margin when the teams last played back in December of 2024. Will Henderson Collegiate have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
