Roane County and Braxton County are an even 5-5 against one another since January of 2020, but not for long. The Roane County Raiders will head out on the road to square off against the Braxton County Eagles at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
Last Wednesday, Roane County ended up a good deal behind Buffalo and lost 61-45. The Raiders have struggled against the Bison recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive lost matchup.
| 01/22/25 vs Buffalo | 9 |
| 01/16/25 @ Clay County | 10 |
| 01/14/25 vs Webster County | 9 |
| 12/27/24 @ Doddridge County | 10 |
| 12/21/24 vs Scott | 9 |
Despite the loss, Roane County got top-tier performance from Will Odle, who almost dropped a double-double on 22 points and nine rebounds. Odle is on a roll when it comes to boards, as he's now pulled down nine or more in the last five games he's played. Cam Cumpston was another key player, putting up eight points along with five assists and five rebounds.
Meanwhile, Braxton County entered their tilt with Webster County on Friday with four consecutive wins but they'll enter their next game with five. They snuck past the Highlanders with a 73-67 victory. While the Eagles didn't have the best season last year (they finished 11-14), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
Braxton County's win came from a few key players Roane County will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Logan Baldwin, who went 9 of 16 on his way to 26 points and six steals. He also put up a block, which washis first of the season. Another player making a difference was Brady Toler, who posted 17 points in addition to eight boards and three blocks.
Braxton County's win bumped their record up to 6-2. As for Roane County, their defeat dropped their record down to 2-6.
Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Roane County has been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 31 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Braxton County struggles in that department as they've been averaging 35.4 boards. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.
Roane County was able to grind out a solid victory over Braxton County in their previous meeting back in February of 2024, winning 48-38. Does Roane County have another victory up their sleeve, or will Braxton County turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
