Preview: Schlarman Hilltoppers vs. Westville Tigers
The Schlarman Hilltoppers are on the road again on Thursday and plays the Westville Tigers at 6:00 p.m. on February 1st. Given that both teams suffered a loss in their last game, they both have a little extra motivation heading into this matchup.
On Wednesday, Schlarman came up short against the Bearcats and fell 38-26. The defeat unfortunately continues a disappointing trend for Schlarman in their matchups with the Bearcats: they've now lost three in a row.
Even though the team lost, they still had their share of impressive performances. One of the best came from Devyn Gose, who scored two points along with six rebounds and four steals. It was the first time this season that she grabbed two or more steals. Layla Briggs was another key contributor, scoring four points along with nine rebounds and two steals.
Meanwhile, Westville's recent rough patch got a bit rougher on Monday after their 17th straight defeat. They took a 39-26 hit to the loss column at the hands of Chrisman.
Aubrie Jenkins put forth a good effort for the losing side as she scored 14 points along with five rebounds. She is trending in the right direction, as she's improved her point production for four games straight.
Schlarman's loss dropped their record down to 1-11. As for Westville, they dropped their record down to 3-21 with that loss, which was their ninth straight on the road.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Schlarman have been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 21.8 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Westville struggles in that department as they've been averaging 26.1 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Schlarman took a serious blow against the Tigers when the teams last played back in February of 2023, falling 64-13. Can Schlarman avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
