Basketball Game Preview: Marion Harding Presidents vs. Walnut Ridge Scots

The Marion Harding Presidents will be taking part in a tournament against the Walnut Ridge Scots at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Marion Harding is coming into the match hot, having won their last six games.

If Walnut Ridge heads into halftime all tied up, they better play a good second half: that's when Marion Harding took over last week. Marion Harding secured a 47-41 W over South on Friday. Given the Presidents' advantage in MaxPreps' Ohio basketball rankings (they are ranked 89th, while the Bulldogs are ranked 238th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.

Meanwhile, Walnut Ridge posted their closest victory since November 30, 2024 on Tuesday. They had just enough and edged out Bexley 45-42.

Walnut Ridge's win came from a few key players Marion Harding will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Marquis Lucas, who went 5-for-11 on his way to 17 points in addition to six rebounds and three steals. The contest was his third in a row with at least 17 points. De'Yaire Adams was another key player, putting up ten points and five boards.

Walnut Ridge smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with ten offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least ten offensive boards in four consecutive games.

Marion Harding pushed their record up to 19-3 with the win, which was their fourth straight at home. Those victories came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 63.3 points over those games. As for Walnut Ridge, they are on a roll lately: they've won 11 of their last 14 matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 16-6 record this season.