Basketball Recap: A.J. Ellender Comes Up Short

A.J. Ellender was not able to break out of their rough patch on Saturday as the team picked up their fourth straight loss. They came up short against the St. John XXIII Lions, falling 56-35. The loss was a bit of a surprise, as the Patriots came into the contest with a sizable advantage in MaxPreps' basketball rankings in their respective home states (they are ranked 117th in Louisiana, while the Lions are ranked 281st in Texas).

A.J. Ellender's defeat dropped their record down to 5-9. As for St. John XXIII, they are on a roll lately: they've won five of their last six matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 17-4 record this season.

Both squads will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. A.J. Ellender will have a little extra prep time after the loss as they won't be playing again for a while. They'll take on Parkview Baptist at 6:30 p.m. on January 12, 2026. As for St. John XXIII, they will challenge Legacy Prep Christian Academy at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.