Basketball Game Preview: Excel Panthers vs. Hillcrest Jaguars

Excel is on an eight-game streak of home losses also dating back to last season, Hillcrest a six-game streak of away losses also dating back to last season, but someone's luck will change on Friday. A feisty cat fight will be fought when the Excel Panthers face off against the Hillcrest Jaguars at 6:00 p.m. Given that the two teams suffered a loss in their last games, they both have a little extra motivation heading into this game.

Last Tuesday, Excel was beaten by Blacksher 49-9. The contest marked the Panthers' lowest-scoring matchup so far this season.

Meanwhile, Hillcrest didn't have quite enough to beat Escambia County on Tuesday and fell 41-38. While losing is never fun, the Jaguars can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Alabama basketball rankings (they are ranked 332nd, while the Blue Devils are ranked 96th).

Hillcrest's loss dropped their record down to 2-5. As for Excel, their defeat dropped their record down to 0-11.

Excel was dealt a bruising 57-19 loss at the hands of Hillcrest in their previous meeting last Tuesday. That game was all but decided by halftime, at which point Excel was down 36-12.