Basketball Game Preview: KIPP College Prep Panthers vs. Parkside Eagles

KIPP College Prep hasn't had much luck against Parkside recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The KIPP College Prep Panthers will take on the Parkside Eagles at 7:15 p.m. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, both will really light up the scoreboard.

Last Saturday, KIPP College Prep wrapped up 2024 with a 62-46 win over Northwood. Given the Panthers' advantage in MaxPreps' basketball rankings in their respective home states (they are ranked 20th in District of Columbia, while the Gladiators are ranked 242nd in Maryland), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.

Elijah Butts

Points

12/28/24 @ Northwood	19
12/27/24 @ Mt. Hebron	15
12/20/24 vs DC International	18
12/18/24 @ Paul Public Charter International	15

KIPP College Prep had a senior duo take command as Mikah Prescott-Bell went 5 for 8 on his way to 16 points and seven rebounds and Elijah Butts went 7 of 16 on his way to 19 points and three steals. The contest was Butts' fourth in a row with at least ten points. The team also got some help courtesy of Dykell Reed, who went 5 of 11 on his way to 12 points and five rebounds.

Meanwhile, Parkside was not able to break out of their rough patch on Saturday as the team picked up their third straight loss. They were three points away from ending the streak, but they lost a 60-57 heartbreaker at the hands of DC International. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest defeat the Eagles have suffered since January 5, 2024.

Parkside's loss dropped their record down to 5-7. As for KIPP College Prep, their victory ended a three-game drought on the road and puts them at 6-5.

KIPP College Prep came up short against Parkside in their previous matchup back in February of 2024, falling 67-57. Can KIPP College Prep avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.