Basketball Game Preview: Antonian Prep Apaches vs. TMI-Episcopal Panthers

The Antonian Prep Apaches will take on the TMI-Episcopal Panthers at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. One thing working in Antonian Prep's favor is that they have posted at least 55 points in their last five matches.

Antonian Prep is probably headed into the contest with a chip on their shoulder considering St. Michael's just ended the team's nine-game winning streak on Tuesday. They took a 77-68 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Warriors. While losing is never fun, the Apaches can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Texas basketball rankings (they are ranked 30th, while the Warriors are ranked fifth).

Despite the loss, Antonian Prep had strong showings from Edison Onwe, who dropped a double-double on 28 points and 11 rebounds, and Amare Guerra, who went 6 of 13 on his way to 19 points and eight boards. Onwe's evening made it nine games in a row in which he has scored at least ten points. Marshall Hicks was another key player, putting up nine points.

Even though they lost, Antonian Prep smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 17 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive rebounds in 15 consecutive games.

Meanwhile, there's no place like home for TMI-Episcopal, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Friday. They blew past Central Catholic 72-47 on Tuesday. That looming 72-47 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Panthers yet this season.

TMI-Episcopal is also on a roll lately: they've won three of their last four matches, which provided a nice bump to their 10-7 record this season. The wins came thanks to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 58.3 points per game. As for Antonian Prep, their defeat ended a three-game streak of wins at home and dropped them to 28-4.

Antonian Prep strolled past TMI-Episcopal in their previous matchup back in November of 2015 by a score of 72-54. Will Antonian Prep repeat their success, or does TMI-Episcopal have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.