Basketball Game Preview: Garinger Wildcats vs. Butler Bulldogs

The Garinger Wildcats will face off against the Butler Bulldogs at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. The teams are rolling into the game with opposing streaks: Garinger has struggled recently with four defeats in a row, while Butler will arrive with five straight wins.

Garinger saw some tournament action on Saturday. They received a blow as they fell 37-22 to Indian Land. While losing is never fun, the Wildcats can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' basketball rankings in their respective home states (they are ranked 512th in North Carolina, while the Warriors are ranked 148th in South Carolina).

Meanwhile, Butler hadn't done well against Independence recently (they were 0-9 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Friday. Butler breezed by Independence to the tune of 71-18. The Bulldogs have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won 12 matches by 22 points or more this season.

Garinger better keep an eye on Hannah Moss. She was instrumental in Butler's win, going 8 of 16 on her way to 20 points along with seven boards and seven steals. Moss is on a roll when it comes to steals, as she's now grabbed three or more in the last five games she's played. Chloe Ross was another key player, almost dropping a double-double on 12 points and nine rebounds.

Butler smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 18 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive rebounds in nine consecutive games.

Butler's victory was their sixth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 14-1. The wins came thanks to their defensive effort, having only surrendered 26.5 points per game. As for Garinger, their loss dropped their record down to 3-13.

Garinger took a serious blow against Butler in their previous meeting back in December of 2024, falling 76-12. Will Garinger 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.