Basketball Game Preview: St. Francis Episcopal Wolves vs. Incarnate Word Academy Angels

The St. Francis Episcopal Wolves will take on the Incarnate Word Academy Angels at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday. St. Francis Episcopal knows how to get points on the board -- the squad has finished with 55 points or more in their past 19 matches -- so hopefully Incarnate Word Academy likes a good challenge.

Incarnate Word Academy is facing St. Francis Episcopal at the wrong time: St. Francis Episcopal suffered their first home loss of the season on Thursday and they're likely out for redemption. They fell just short of the Titans by a score of 59-57. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest defeat the Wolves have suffered since November 22, 2023.

Despite their loss, St. Francis Episcopal saw several players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. John Laboy, II, who posted 13 points along with five rebounds and three blocks, was perhaps the best of all. That's the most blocks Laboy, II has posted since back in November of 2023. Christian Hodge was another key player, going 6-for-14 to rack up 14 points and seven boards.

Meanwhile, it's playoff time, and Incarnate Word Academy had no trouble coming through when it counted. They took their contest on Friday with ease, bagging a 57-24 win over Brazos Christian. The victory was familiar territory for the Angels, who have now won three games in a row.

Incarnate Word Academy's win came from a few key players St. Francis Episcopal will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Matthew Cory, who dropped a double-double with 17 points and ten assists. The team also got some help courtesy of Kyle Owen, who went 6-for-11 on his way to 14 points in addition to eight steals and five rebounds.

Incarnate Word Academy's win bumped their record up to 21-14. As for St. Francis Episcopal, their defeat dropped their record down to 26-8.