Basketball Game Preview: Belfast Lions vs. Waterville Panthers

A feisty cat fight will be fought when the Belfast Lions take on the Waterville Panthers at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday... Belfast will be strutting in after a win while Waterville will be coming in after a defeat.

Belfast will bounce into Thursday's contest after beating Winslow, who they had gone 0-9 against in their nine prior meetings. Belfast managed a 56-50 victory over Winslow on Friday. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Lions.

Belfast's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Trevin Ripley, who dropped a double-double on 21 points and 11 boards. Ripley's evening made it three games in a row in which he has scored at least ten points. Landon Economy was another key player, putting up 17 points.

Meanwhile, Waterville was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their third straight loss. They were outmatched by Oak Hill and fell 65-37.

Waterville's defeat dropped their record down to 2-5. As for Belfast, their victory ended an 11-game drought at home dating back to last season and bumped them up to 4-2.

Belfast won a match that couldn't have been any closer when the teams last played back in February, slipping by Waterville 74-73. Does Belfast have another victory up their sleeve, or will Waterville turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.