Basketball Game Preview: Emmanuel Christian Crusaders vs. Sumter Christian Bears

Emmanuel Christian is 3-0 against Sumter Christian since January of 2015 and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Friday. The Emmanuel Christian Crusaders will be playing at home against the Sumter Christian Bears at 4:00 p.m. Emmanuel Christian hasn't scored more than 25 points for four games straight, a trend the squad is eager to reverse.

Last Tuesday, Emmanuel Christian ended up a good deal behind Calvary Christian and lost 33-17. The Crusaders were down 31-11 at the end of the third quarter, which was just too much to recover from.

Aubrey Hoffman

Steals

01/28/25 @ Calvary Christian	6
01/27/25 vs Varsity Opponent	3
01/24/25 vs Christ the Cornerstone Academy	3
01/16/25 vs Varsity Opponent	3
01/13/25 vs Maranatha Christian	8

The loss doesn't tell the whole story though, as several players had good games. One of the most active was Aubrey Hoffman, who posted five points along with six boards and six steals. She has been hot for a while, having posted three or more steals the last ten times she's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Maddie Oliver, who had four points in addition to six rebounds and four steals.

Even though they lost, Emmanuel Christian smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 12 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least 12 offensive boards in five consecutive matchups.

Meanwhile, Sumter Christian was not able to break out of their rough patch back in December of 2024 as the team picked up their third straight loss. They were outmatched by Victory Christian and fell 39-12.

Sumter Christian's defeat dropped their record down to 0-3. As for Emmanuel Christian, their loss dropped their record down to 3-11.

Everything came up roses for Emmanuel Christian against Sumter Christian in their previous matchup back in December of 2024, as the team secured a 40-12 victory. Will Emmanuel Christian repeat their success, or does Sumter Christian have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.