Basketball Game Preview: Flagler Panthers vs. Bethune Bobcats

A feisty cat fight will be fought as the Panthers duke it out with the Bobcats at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Flagler will be strutting in after a victory while Bethune will be coming in after a loss.

Flagler is headed into the game having just posted their biggest win since January 14th on Wednesday. They blew past Wiley 52-30.

Meanwhile, Bethune was not able to break out of their rough patch on Monday as the team picked up their fourth straight defeat. They came up short against South Baca [Campo/Vilas/Pritchett], falling 77-51. The Bobcats were down 54-30 at the end of the third quarter, and things only got worse from there.

Flagler will have to keep a close watch on Jamie Strobel and Madilyn Powell, a pair of players who had a big impact on Bethune's prior game. Strobel went 7-for-15 en route to 15 points and six rebounds, while Powell posted 17 points and six boards. Samantha Robinson was another key player, putting up ten points and six boards.

Even though they lost, Bethune smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 16 offensive boards. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their offensive rebound total in three consecutive matches.

Flagler now has a winning record of 9-8. As for Bethune, their loss dropped their record down to 6-8.

Flagler strolled past Bethune in their previous meeting back in February of 2024 by a score of 50-35. The rematch might be a little tougher for Flagler since the squad won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.