Basketball Game Preview: Southport Cardinals vs. Plainfield Quakers

The Southport Cardinals will challenge the Plainfield Quakers at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: both posted some lofty point totals in their previous games.

While Southport didn't have the best season last year (they finished 9-14), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They enjoyed a cozy 60-45 win over Indianapolis Arsenal Technical last Monday. Given the Cardinals' advantage in MaxPreps' Indiana basketball rankings (they are ranked 68th, while the Titans are ranked 243rd), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.

Southport got their victory on the backs of several key players, but it was James Kalala out in front who dropped a double-double on 13 points and ten rebounds. Kalala has been hot recently, having posted ten or more rebounds the last three times he's played. Another player making a difference was Cristian Webster, who went 5 of 10 en route to 16 points.

Southport smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 12 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least ten offensive rebounds in three consecutive contests.

Meanwhile, Plainfield ended the year with a bang, routing New Haven 81-55 on Saturday. The Quakers have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won three matches by 25 points or more this season.

Plainfield found their leader in sophomore Harper Baker-Lands, who went 10 of 19 on his way to 24 points. The team also got some help courtesy of Noah Smith, who went 5 of 11 on his way to 19 points and eight rebounds.

Plainfield is on a roll lately: they've won four of their last five games, which provided a nice bump to their 6-3 record this season. The wins came thanks to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 69.4 points per game. As for Southport, their win bumped their record up to 5-2.

Southport might still be hurting after the 75-53 defeat they got from Plainfield in their previous meeting back in December of 2023. Will Southport have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.