Basketball Game Preview: Helena Bengals vs. Gallatin Raptors

After both having extra time off, the Helena Bengals and the Gallatin Raptors will shake off the cobwebs and square off against one another at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Helena took a loss when they played away from home last Friday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed last Saturday. They came out on top against Billings Senior by a score of 49-40.

Meanwhile, Gallatin put another one in the bag last Saturday to keep their perfect season alive. They blew past Flathead, posting a 61-15 victory. Fans of the Raptors have seen this all before: every one of the games they've played this season has ended in a blowout of 20+ points.

Helena's win was their fifth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 2-1. The wins came thanks to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 53.2 points per game. As for Gallatin, their victory bumped their record up to 3-0.

Helena was able to grind out a solid win over Gallatin in their previous meeting back in December of 2023, winning 49-42. The rematch might be a little tougher for Helena since the team won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.