Basketball Game Preview: Pioneer Panthers vs. DeMotte Christian Knights

The Pioneer Panthers will venture away from home to challenge the DeMotte Christian Knights at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Given that both suffered a loss in their last games, they both have a little extra motivation heading into this match.

Pioneer is probably headed into the game with a chip on their shoulder considering Frontier just ended the team's three-game winning streak on Monday. They fell to the Falcons 56-50.

Meanwhile, DeMotte Christian was not able to break out of their rough patch on Tuesday as the team picked up their fourth straight loss. They took a hard 59-45 fall against Victory Christian Academy. While losing is never fun, the Knights can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Indiana basketball rankings (they are ranked 405th, while the Lions are ranked 172nd).

Pioneer's defeat dropped their record down to 6-5. As for DeMotte Christian, their loss dropped their record down to 4-6.

Pioneer won a contest that couldn't have been any closer in their previous matchup back in January of 2024, slipping by DeMotte Christian 54-53. One of the biggest obstacles trying to stand in the way of that victory was DeMotte Christian's Luke Terpstra, who almost dropped a double-double on 23 points and nine rebounds. Now that he won't be playing on Friday, will it be easier for Pioneer to walk away with another win? There's only one way to find out.