Basketball Recap: Avalon Comes Up Short

Avalon lost against New Hope Academy National back in December of 2023 and unfortunately they wound up with the same result on Saturday. The contest between the Avalon Black Knights and the New Hope Academy National Tigers didn't end well, with the Avalon Black Knights falling 68-50.

Leading New Hope Academy National to victory were Uriah Augare-Deal and Haki Muhammed II. Augare-Deal went 7 for 9 on his way to 17 points in addition to seven assists and five boards, while Muhammed II went 8 of 14 on his way to 26 points. That makes it four consecutive games in which Muhammed II has scored at least a third of New Hope Academy National's points. The team also got some help courtesy of Isrial Braxton, who posted seven points and six rebounds.

Avalon has been struggling recently as they've lost four of their last five games, which put a noticeable dent in their 3-6 record this season. That patch can't be blamed on the team's offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 51.8 points per game. As for New Hope Academy National, their record now sits at 7-8.

Avalon and Parkside will round out the year against one another at at 12:40 p.m. on December 30th. That matchup will pit two of the most dominant guards against one another: Daiquan Smith and Jordan Fox. As for New Hope Academy National, they wasted no time getting back out on the court and have already played their next contest, a 67-57 defeat against St. Andrew's Episcopal on the 21st.