Basketball Game Preview: Smithfield-Selma Spartans vs. Southern Wayne Saints

Smithfield-Selma is 1-6 against Southern Wayne since November of 2014 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Tuesday. The Smithfield-Selma Spartans will look to defend their home court against the Southern Wayne Saints at 6:00 p.m. Both teams took a loss in their last game, so they'll have plenty of motivation to get the 'W'.

Smithfield-Selma is headed into Tuesday's match looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their fourth straight game on Tuesday. They were dealt a 71-10 loss at the hands of Fike. While losing is never fun, the Spartans can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' North Carolina basketball rankings (they are ranked 554th, while the Demons are ranked 60th).

Meanwhile, Southern Wayne was within striking distance but couldn't close the gap on Thursday as they fell 38-33 to West Johnston. The Saints have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.

Smithfield-Selma will have to keep a close watch on Nevaeh Hines-Bass and Destiny Bullock, a pair of players who had a big impact on Southern Wayne's prior game. Hines-Bass went 7 of 11 on her way to 21 points and six rebounds, while Bullock posted nine points and four steals. That was a full 63.6% of Southern Wayne's points, marking the third time in a row she's put up more than a third of the team's points.

Southern Wayne's defeat dropped their record down to 4-7. As for Smithfield-Selma, their loss dropped their record down to 1-9.

Smithfield-Selma was dealt a bruising 52-17 defeat at the hands of Southern Wayne when the teams last played back in February of 2024. That game was all but decided by halftime, at which point Smithfield-Selma was down 33-11.