Basketball Game Preview: Axtell Wildcats vs. Sumner-Eddyville-Miller Mustangs

Axtell and Sumner-Eddyville-Miller are an even 5-5 against one another since February of 2016, but not for long. The Axtell Wildcats will head out to take on the Sumner-Eddyville-Miller Mustangs at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

Last Friday, Axtell opened the new year with a less-than-successful 65-52 loss to Kenesaw. The Wildcats have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.

Despite the defeat, Axtell got top-tier performance from Jacob Halvorsen, who posted 20 points in addition to five boards and four steals. Halvorsen is on a roll when it comes to steals, as he's now grabbed two or more in the last eight games he's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Brandt Modlin, who had ten points.

Meanwhile, Sumner-Eddyville-Miller waltzed into their game on Thursday with two straight wins... but they left with three. They enjoyed a cozy 50-32 victory over Hi-Line [Eustis-Farnam/Elwood].

Axtell better keep an eye on Isaac O?Neill. He was instrumental in Sumner-Eddyville-Miller's win, dropping a double-double on 12 points and 12 rebounds. The dominant performance gave O?Neill a new career-high in points. Another player making a difference was Chance Daake, who posted 12 points in addition to six boards and three blocks.

Sumner-Eddyville-Miller was working as a unit and finished the game with 15 assists. That's the most assists they've managed all season.

Sumner-Eddyville-Miller's win bumped their record up to 5-3. As for Axtell, their loss dropped their record down to 4-6.

Things could have been worse for Axtell, but things could have been a whole lot better as they took a 61-45 loss to Sumner-Eddyville-Miller in their previous meeting back in January of 2024. Can Axtell avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.