Basketball Game Preview: Clark Eagles vs. Southwest DeKalb Panthers

Having just played yesterday, the Clark Eagles will jump right back in to play the Southwest DeKalb Panthers at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. Clark has a tough task ahead: they'll enter the matchup with four straight losses, while Southwest DeKalb will come in with three straight wins.

It's never fun to lose, and it's even less fun to lose 87-33, which was the final score in Clark's tilt against Cedar Grove on Friday. While losing is never fun, the Eagles can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' basketball rankings in their respective home states (they are ranked 269th in Illinois, while the Saints are ranked 38th in Georgia).

Meanwhile, Southwest DeKalb humbled Prosser with a 57-18 victory. That 39 point margin sets a new team best for the Panthers this season.

Southwest DeKalb's win came from a few key players Clark will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Messiah Mergan, who posted ten points and five rebounds. He is also on a roll when it comes to steals, as he's now grabbed two or more in the last three games he's played. Another player making a difference was Jackson Ushery, who had 13 points.

Southwest DeKalb smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 12 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive rebounds in four consecutive contests.

Southwest DeKalb's victory bumped their record up to 12-1. As for Clark, their defeat dropped their record down to 4-4.