Basketball Game Preview: Union Knights/Damsels vs. Clarion Area Bobcats

The Union Knights/Damsels and the Clarion Area Bobcats will compete for holiday cheer at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty point totals in their previous games.

Union is headed in fresh off scoring the most points they have all season. They blew past East Forest, posting a 59-30 victory. The win was some much needed relief for the Knights/Damsels as it spelled an end to their four-game losing streak dating back to last season.

Union's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Trent Fleming, who posted 22 points. That makes it three consecutive games in which Fleming has scored at least a third of Union's points. The team also got some help courtesy of Gage Jordan, who dropped a double-double on 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Meanwhile, Clarion Area had already won three in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 13 points) and they went ahead and made it four on Monday. They strolled past the Lions with points to spare, taking the game 61-47. With that win, the Bobcats brought their scoring average up to 51 points per game.

Clarion Area's win came from a few key players Union will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Wyatt Waterson, who earned 19 points. Another player making a difference was Nathan Frederick, who put up 12 points.

Union's first victory this season bumped their record up to 1-3. As for Clarion Area, their win bumped their record up to 4-2.

Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Union has crashing the boards this season, having averaged 20.8 boards per game. However, it's not like Clarion Area struggles in that department as they've been averaging 26.8 rebounds. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.

Union came up short against Clarion Area when the teams last played back in December of 2023, falling 51-42. Will Union have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more basketball content.