Basketball Game Preview: Eastmark Firebirds vs. ALA - Queen Creek Patriots

The Eastmark Firebirds will challenge the ALA - Queen Creek Patriots at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. The timing is sure in Eastmark's favor as the squad sits on three straight wins at home while ALA - Queen Creek has been banged up by five consecutive losses on the road.

Last Tuesday, everything came up roses for Eastmark against Crismon as the team secured a 69-13 win. The Firebirds have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won ten matchups by 26 points or more this season.

Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Eastmark to victory, but perhaps none more so than Isabella Jackson, who posted 15 points along with seven assists and seven steals. Jackson is on a roll when it comes to steals, as she's now grabbed two or more in the last 17 games she's played dating back to last season. Anna LaFountain was another key player, going 8 of 14 en route to 18 points.

Meanwhile, ALA - Queen Creek lost 44-24 to ALA - Gilbert North on Tuesday. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest defeat the Patriots have suffered against the Eagles since February 21, 2020.

Despite the loss, ALA - Queen Creek saw an underclassman step up: freshman Olivia Welch put up nine points and four steals.

Eastmark is on a roll lately: they've won ten of their last 11 contests, which provided a nice bump to their 13-2 record this season. Those victories came thanks to their defensive effort, having only surrendered 25.0 points per game. As for ALA - Queen Creek, their defeat dropped their record down to 3-18.

Everything came up roses for Eastmark against ALA - Queen Creek in their previous meeting on January 10th, as the squad secured a 76-19 victory. Does Eastmark have another victory up their sleeve, or will ALA - Queen Creek turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.