Basketball Recap: Hickory Comes Up Short

Hickory was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their sixth straight defeat dating back to last season. Their2024 ended with a 59-43 loss against the Maiden Blue Devils. While losing is never fun, the Red Tornadoes can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' North Carolina basketball rankings (they are ranked 381st, while the Blue Devils are ranked 63rd).

Maiden's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Khiara Culliver led the charge by dropping a double-double on 24 points and 17 boards. Culliver is also on a roll when it comes to steals, as she's now grabbed two or more in the last eight games she's played. Willow Bass was another key player, putting up 13 points along with five assists and five boards.

Hickory's defeat dropped their record down to 0-4. As for Maiden, the victory was the third in a row for them, bringing their record for this year to 9-1.

Hickory didn't take long to hit the court again: they've already played their next match, a 61-37 loss against Foard on the 28th. As for Maiden, they also wasted no time getting back out on the court and have already played their next game, a 48-43 defeat against Alexander Central on the 28th.