Basketball Game Preview: Providence Panthers vs. Porter Ridge Pirates

The Providence Panthers will wrap up 2024 with a road trip to face off against the Porter Ridge Pirates at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. The two teams have had a bumpy ride up to this point with three consecutive losses apiece.

Last Friday, Providence came up short against Butler and fell 57-45. While losing is never fun, the Panthers can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' North Carolina basketball rankings (they are ranked 437th, while the Bulldogs are ranked 151st).

Meanwhile, Porter Ridge also suffered a loss in their last game, but this one to Mount Pleasant by a score of 76-67. That's two games in a row now that the Pirates have lost by exactly nine points.

Porter Ridge's defeat dropped their record down to 2-9. As for Providence, their loss dropped their record down to 1-8.

Providence ended up a good deal behind Porter Ridge in their previous matchup back in December of 2023, losing 71-57. Can Providence avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.