Basketball Game Preview: Central Decatur Cardinals vs. Nodaway Valley Wolverines

Central Decatur and Nodaway Valley are an even 5-5 against one another since January of 2018, but not for long. The Central Decatur Cardinals will head out on the road to take on the Nodaway Valley Wolverines at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Central Decatur is coming into the matchup on a three-game losing streak.

It's never fun to lose, and it's even less fun to lose 63-35, which was the final score in Central Decatur's tilt against Mount Ayr on Tuesday. While losing is never fun, the Cardinals can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Iowa basketball rankings (they are ranked 242nd, while the Raiders are ranked 102nd).

Meanwhile, Nodaway Valley came into Tuesday's contest having lost eight straight, but that streak is now in the rearview. They came out on top in a nail-biter against East Union on Tuesday, sneaking past 54-51. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Wolverines have posted since February 8, 2024.

Central Decatur's defeat dropped their record down to 8-10. As for Nodaway Valley, their win ended a 12-game drought on the road dating back to last season and puts them at 2-17.

Central Decatur took their victory against Nodaway Valley when the teams last played back in January by a conclusive 81-55. The rematch might be a little tougher for Central Decatur since the team won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.