Basketball Game Preview: Sunnyslope Vikings vs. O'Connor Eagles

The Sunnyslope Vikings will square off against the O'Connor Eagles at 7:00 p.m. on Monday. The timing is sure in Sunnyslope's favor as the team sits on nine straight wins at home (dating back to last season) while O'Connor has been banged up by three consecutive losses on the road.

Having struggled with three defeats in a row, Sunnyslope turned things around against Shadow Ridge on Thursday. They breezed by the Stallions to the tune of 93-14. The Vikings have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won seven matches by 20 points or more this season.

Amelia Mickelson

Points

12/30/23 vs Auburn	24
01/09/25 vs Shadow Ridge	23
12/19/24 vs Christian Brothers	18
11/25/23 vs Horizon	18
11/30/23 vs Apollo	17

Sunnyslope got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Amelia Mickelson out in front who went 7 of 9 from beyond the arc en route to 23 points and seven rebounds. That's the most points Mickelson has posted since back in December of 2023. Another player making a difference was Teagan McIlroy, who almost dropped a double-double on 13 points and nine steals.

Meanwhile, O'Connor ended up a good deal behind Valley Vista on Friday and lost 68-54. While losing is never fun, the Eagles can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Arizona basketball rankings (they are ranked 36th, while the Monsoon are ranked third).

Sunnyslope's victory bumped their record up to 11-5. As for O'Connor, they now have a losing record at 6-7.

Sunnyslope came up short against O'Connor in their previous matchup back in February of 2024, falling 67-55. Will Sunnyslope have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other basketball content.