Basketball Game Preview: North Charleston Cougars vs. Battery Creek Dolphins

The North Charleston Cougars will face off against the Battery Creek Dolphins at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday. North Charleston is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 56.1 points per game this season.

Last Wednesday, North Charleston was within striking distance but couldn't close the gap as they fell 52-48 to Orangeburg-Wilkinson. While losing is never fun, the Cougars can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' South Carolina basketball rankings (they are ranked 66th, while the Bruins are ranked 19th).

Even though the team lost, they still had their share of impressive performances. One of the best came from Richard Hazel III, who posted 15 points and five boards. He has been hot, having also posted two or more steals the last seven times he's played. Otto Witherspoon was another key player, putting up 12 points.

Even though they lost, North Charleston smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 13 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least nine offensive rebounds in 15 consecutive matchups.

Meanwhile, Battery Creek came into Friday's game having lost three straight, but that streak is now in the rearview. They managed a 42-38 victory over Hanahan on Friday.

Battery Creek's win was their first in the region, bumping their region record up to 1-2 and their overall record up to 9-8. As for North Charleston, their loss dropped their record down to 11-7.

Everything came up roses for North Charleston against Battery Creek when the teams last played back in January of 2024, as the team secured a 64-34 victory. Will North Charleston repeat their success, or does Battery Creek have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.