Basketball Game Preview: Ariton Purple Cats vs. Long Rebels

The Ariton Purple Cats will challenge the Long Rebels at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Ariton will be strutting in after a win while Long will be coming in after a loss.

Ariton will bounce into Thursday's game after beating Northside Methodist Academy, who they had gone 1-8 against in their nine prior meetings. Ariton came out on top in a nail-biter against Northside Methodist Academy on Tuesday, sneaking past 51-48. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Purple Cats have posted since December 9, 2024.

Meanwhile, Long was within striking distance but couldn't close the gap on Saturday as they fell 40-36 to Ariton. While losing is never fun, the Rebels can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Alabama basketball rankings (they are ranked 341st, while the Purple Cats are ranked 163rd).

The win made it two in a row for Ariton and bumps their season record up to 14-4. As for Long, their defeat was their fifth straight on the road, which dropped their record down to 4-18.

Ariton didn't have too much breathing room in their match against Long in their previous matchup on Saturday, but they still walked away with a 40-36 victory. Does Ariton have another victory up their sleeve, or will Long turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.