Basketball Game Preview: Williston Red Devils vs. Columbia Tigers + Official Tickets

Williston hasn't had much luck against Columbia recently, but that could start to change on Friday. Having just played yesterday, the Red Devils will get right back to it and host the Tigers at 7:30 p.m. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.

On Thursday, Williston needed a bit of extra time to put away Gainesville. They skirted past the Hurricanes 68-65. The Red Devils' victory was nothing new given the team hasn't lost yet this season.

Meanwhile, even if it wasn't a dominant performance, Columbia beat Gainesville 56-52 on Tuesday.

Columbia's win came from a few key players Williston will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Murkail Cray, who posted seven points in addition to five rebounds and three steals. He is also on a roll when it comes to shooting accuracy, as he's posted one of at least 50% in the last three games he's played dating back to last season. Another player making a difference was Shaheed White, who put up 11 points along with five assists and three steals.

Columbia smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 18 offensive rebounds. That's the most offensive boards they've posted since back in December of 2024.

The win got Columbia back to even at 1-1. As for Williston, their victory bumped their record up to 3-0.

Williston couldn't quite finish off Columbia in their previous matchup back in December of 2022 and fell 62-60. Thankfully for the Red Devils, Ty'Jahn Wright (who dropped a double-double with 24 points and 11 boards) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.