Basketball Game Preview: Jackson Center Tigers vs. Russia Raiders

Jackson Center has won nine straight games at home (dating back to last season), while Russia has won nine straight on the road also dating back to last season, but those streaks won't matter much on Friday. The Jackson Center Tigers will welcome the Russia Raiders at 7:30 p.m. Both are at an even 5-5 against one another since February of 2021, but likely not for long.

Jackson Center is probably headed into the match with a chip on their shoulder considering Wapakoneta just ended the team's seven-game winning streak on Saturday. They fell just short of the Redskins by a score of 44-41. The loss was a bit of a surprise, as the Tigers came into the contest with a sizable advantage in MaxPreps' Ohio basketball rankings (they are ranked 113th, while the Redskins are ranked 502nd).

Meanwhile, Russia got the win against Tri-Village on Sunday by a conclusive 66-45. The Raiders have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won 11 games by 21 points or more this season.

Jackson Center's defeat dropped their record down to 10-3. As for Russia, their win bumped their record up to 15-0.

Jackson Center might still be hurting after the 48-27 loss they got from Russia when the teams last played back in December of 2024. Will Jackson Center have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other basketball content.