Basketball Game Preview: Grace Academy Lions vs. Walnut Grove Christian Christian Warriors

Two dominant guards in Carson Payne and AJ Curerton are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Grace Academy Lions will host the Walnut Grove Christian Christian Warriors at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. Grace Academy is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 71.4 points per game this season.

Walnut Grove Christian is facing Grace Academy at the wrong time: Grace Academy suffered their first home loss of the season on Thursday and they're likely out for redemption. They took a hard 70-53 fall against the Stallions.

Evan Buslovich

Points

01/16/25 vs Greater Cabarrus S	17
01/10/25 vs Grace Christian School	20
01/09/25 vs Charlotte Lab School	24
01/07/25 @ North Hills Christian	19

Despite the loss, Grace Academy saw an underclassman step up: freshman Evan Buslovich posted 17 points and four steals. Buslovich's evening made it four games in a row in which he has scored at least ten points. The team also got some help courtesy of Tim Burris, who had 11 points.

Meanwhile, Walnut Grove Christian entered their contest against Liberty Preparatory Christian Academy on Tuesday without any home losses, but there's a first time for everything. Walnut Grove Christian took a 74-64 hit to the loss column at the hands of Liberty Preparatory Christian Academy.

Grace Academy will need focus on slowing down Curerton, one of several Walnut Grove Christian players who made an impact when they last played. He scored 27 points. Curerton is crushing it when it comes to points: he's scored at least 18 every time he's taken the court this season. Jack Bonagura was another key player, putting up 18 points.

Grace Academy's defeat ended a six-game streak of wins at home and dropped them to 15-4. As for Walnut Grove Christian, their loss dropped their record down to 10-6.

Some high-performance offense is likely on the agenda as the two teams are some of the highest scoring teams in the league. Grace Academy hasn't had any problem running up the score this season, having averaged 71.4 points per game. However, it's not like Walnut Grove Christian struggles in that department as they've been averaging 66.2 points. With both teams so easily able to put up points, the only question left is who can run the score up higher.

Grace Academy came up short against Walnut Grove Christian in their previous meeting back in December of 2015, falling 62-57. Will Grace Academy have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.