Basketball Game Preview: Mathis Pirates vs. Taft Greyhounds

For the first time this season, Mathis will have a chance to prove themselves in a conference matchup. They and the Taft Greyhounds will compete for holiday cheer at 6:15 p.m. on Tuesday. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Mathis proved they can win big on Friday (they won by 39) and on Friday they proved they can win the close ones too. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Falfurrias, sneaking past 41-38. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Pirates have posted since November 9, 2024.

Mathis can attribute much of their success to Amerie Smith, who posted 16 points. The team also got some help courtesy of Kaitlyn Herrera, who put up 11 points and four steals.

Meanwhile, Taft didn't have too much trouble with Vidor on Saturday as they won 45-31.

Taft's win came from a few key players Mathis will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Aliana Torres, who scored 22 points and four steals. Another player making a difference was Yaneli Rios, who went 6-for-15 to rack up 12 points and five boards.

Mathis' record now sits at 8-10. As for Taft, their record is now 10-6.

Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Mathis has been crashing the boards this season, having averaged 27.4 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Taft struggles in that department as they've been averaging 28.9 boards. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.

Mathis suffered a grim 61-36 defeat to Taft when the teams last played back in January. Can the Pirates avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.