Basketball Game Preview: Ascend Leadership Aviators vs. Triangle Math & Science Tigers

Ascend Leadership is 0-3 against Triangle Math & Science since January of 2024 but things could change on Tuesday. The Ascend Leadership Aviators will head out on the road to take on the Triangle Math & Science Tigers at 6:00 p.m. Both come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Ascend Leadership got their first taste of in-conference action this week and they started things off strong. They secured a 31-26 W over River Mill on Friday.

Kimari Cross

Steals

02/07/25 @ River Mill	6
02/05/25 @ American Leadership Academy-Johnston	8
02/04/25 vs Woods Charter	3
01/31/25 @ Southern Wake Academy	8
01/29/25 @ Woods Charter	4
01/28/25 @ Chatham Charter	4

Ascend Leadership found their leader in freshman Kimari Cross, who dropped a double-double with 11 points and 15 boards. Cross is also on a roll when it comes to steals, as she's now grabbed three or more in the last six games she's played. Elizabeth Fike was another key player, putting up two points and four steals.

Meanwhile, Triangle Math & Science was able to grind out a solid win over Clover Garden School on Monday, taking the game 52-42. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Tigers.

Triangle Math & Science pushed their record up to 13-8 with the victory, which was their sixth straight at home. Those victories came thanks in part to their defensive effort, having only surrendered 28.2 points over those games. As for Ascend Leadership, the win was their first on the road , bumping their record up to 3-17.

Ascend Leadership might still be hurting after the 41-17 defeat they got from Triangle Math & Science when the teams last played back in January. A big factor in that loss was the dominant performance of Triangle Math & Science's Noor Rana, who went 7 for 16 to rack up 20 points in addition to six assists and four steals. Now that Ascend Leadership knows the damage she can cause, will they be able to stop her this time? There's only one way to find out.