Basketball Game Preview: Northampton Yellowjackets vs. Arcadia Firebirds

The Northampton Yellowjackets are taking a road trip to take on the Arcadia Firebirds at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Northampton knows how to get points on the board -- the squad has finished with 55 points or more in their past six games -- so hopefully Arcadia likes a good challenge.

Northampton proved they can win big on Thursday (they won by 49) and on Friday they proved they can win the close ones too. They skirted past Mathews 69-66. The Yellowjackets haven't had any issues with the Blue Devils recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive victory against them.

Antoine Horsley

Rebounds

01/30/25 vs Arcadia	17
12/09/24 @ Mathews	17
02/04/25 @ Chincoteague	12
01/31/25 vs Charles City	11
01/20/25 @ Perquimans	11
+ 11 more games

Antoine Horsley was his usual excellent self, dropping a double-double on 16 points and ten rebounds. He has become a key player for Northampton: the team is 6-2 when he posts at least ten boards, but 1-8 otherwise. Jaylen Anderson was another key player, putting up 13 points.

Northampton smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 14 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least ten offensive boards in 13 consecutive matchups.

Meanwhile, Arcadia entered their tilt with Chincoteague on Thursday with seven consecutive wins but they'll enter their next game with eight. They breezed by the Ponies to the tune of 82-50. The Firebirds have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won six contests by 21 points or more this season.

Northampton better keep an eye on Jordan Cropper. He was instrumental in Arcadia's win, going 11 of 18 on his way to 27 points in addition to seven rebounds and three steals. Cropper is on a roll when it comes to steals, as he's now grabbed two or more in the last three games he's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Tyrell Wise, who went 8 for 16 en route to 16 points and four steals.

Northampton's record now sits at 7-10. As for Arcadia, they pushed their record up to 12-5 with the win, which was their seventh straight on the road.

Northampton and Arcadia were neck-and-neck in their previous meeting last Thursday, but Northampton came up empty-handed after a 79-78 loss. Can Northampton avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.