Basketball Game Preview: Saint Andrew's Scots vs. St. John Paul II Academy Eagles

Saint Andrew has gone 8-2 against St. John Paul II Academy recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Friday. The Scots will be playing at home against the Eagles at 5:30 p.m. Saint Andrew's knows how to get points on the board -- the team has finished with 55 points or more in their past ten matchups -- so hopefully St. John Paul II Academy likes a good challenge.

The home team had come away the winner the last five times Saint Andrew's and Pine Crest had met, but sadly for the fans who attended this one that wasn't the case. The Scots snuck past the Panthers with an 85-80 win on Tuesday. The victory continues a trend for the Scots in their matchups with the Panthers: they've now won five in a row.

Xander Gerard

Points

12/09/25 @ Pine Crest	27
12/06/25 vs Pembroke Pines Charter	16
12/04/25 @ Park Vista	20

Xander Gerard produced another solid performance almost dropping a double-double with 27 points and nine rebounds. The game was his third in a row with at least 16 points. Brendan Gerard was another key player, shooting 56% from the field on his way to 20 points in addition to seven assists and five boards.

Saint Andrew's smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 17 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least nine offensive boards in six consecutive contests.

Meanwhile, St. John Paul II Academy was able to grind out a solid win over Forges Academy on Tuesday, taking the game 56-44.

Saint Andrew's victory bumped their record up to 9-1. As for St. John Paul II Academy, their win (their first of the season) made their record 1-5.

Saint Andrew's took their victory against St. John Paul II Academy when the teams last played back in December of 2024 by a conclusive 81-60 score. One of the biggest obstacles trying to stand in the way of that victory was the Eagles' Ian Astiazarain, who went 10-for-19 to rack up 27 points. Now that he won't be playing on Friday, will it be easier for the Scots to walk away with another win? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.