Basketball Game Preview: Universal Stars vs. Shepard Astros

Universal is 0-9 against Shepard since February of 2015 but things could change on Thursday. The Universal Stars will square off against the Shepard Astros at 6:30 p.m. Both teams took a loss in their last game, so they'll have plenty of motivation to get the 'W'.

Universal is headed into Thursday's matchup looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their fifth straight game on Tuesday. They took a hard 61-46 fall against Julian. While losing is never fun, the Stars can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Illinois basketball rankings (they are ranked 716th, while the Jaguars are ranked 332nd).

Meanwhile, Shepard lost 67-46 to Minooka on Wednesday.

Shepard dropped their record down to 12-18 with the loss, which was their third straight at home. As for Universal, their defeat dropped their record down to 4-21.

Universal took a serious blow against Shepard in their previous meeting back in February of 2024, falling 80-35. Can Universal avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.