Basketball Game Preview: Jackson South Side Hawks vs. McNairy Central Bobcats

Jackson South Side is 8-2 against McNairy Central since January of 2020 and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Friday. The Jackson South Side Hawks will host the McNairy Central Bobcats at 6:00 p.m. Jackson South Side will be looking to extend their current ten-game winning streak.

Jackson South Side is headed into the contest after thoroughly thrashing Lexington: they outscored them in every quarter. Jackson South Side was the clear victor by a 59-33 margin over Lexington on Tuesday. The Hawks have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won 11 matchups by 22 points or more this season.

Ri'Kiya Mitchell

Points

01/21/25 @ Lexington	29
01/07/25 @ Jackson Central Merry	23
01/14/25 vs Chester County	9
01/09/25 @ Hardin County	8
01/17/25 @ Jackson North Side	4

Jackson South Side found their leader in sophomore Ri'Kiya Mitchell, who dropped a double-double on 29 points and ten rebounds. As a matter of fact, that's the most points Mitchell has scored all season. Jaidynn Askins was another key player, going 6 of 12 on her way to 13 points and five boards.

Jackson South Side smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 22 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least ten offensive boards in ten consecutive games.

Meanwhile, everything came up roses for McNairy Central against Jackson North Side on Tuesday as the team secured a 65-11 win. That looming 65-11 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Bobcats yet this season.

McNairy Central has also been performing well recently as they've won eight of their last ten contests, which provided a nice bump to their 14-5 record this season. Those victories came thanks to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 53.9 points per game. As for Jackson South Side, their victory was their eighth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 16-2.

Jackson South Side beat McNairy Central 44-37 in their previous meeting back in February of 2024. Will Jackson South Side repeat their success, or does McNairy Central have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.