Basketball Game Preview: Monroe Golden Tornadoes vs. Lovejoy Wildcats

The Monroe Golden Tornadoes and the Lovejoy Wildcats will compete for holiday cheer at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, both will really light up the scoreboard.

Monroe will head into Friday's contest on the come-up: they were handed a heart-breaking three-point defeat in their last matchup, but they sure didn't let that happen against Calhoun County on Friday. Monroe claimed a resounding 57-27 win over Calhoun County. The Golden Tornadoes have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won five games by 27 points or more this season.

Kie'aundria Acree

Points

12/13/24 @ Calhoun County	27
12/05/24 @ Lee County	26
11/26/24 vs Windsor Forest	28
11/25/24 vs South Effingham	28
11/23/24 vs Dacula	28

Monroe found their leader in sophomore Kie'Aundria Acree, who dropped a double-double on 27 points and 15 rebounds. Acree's evening made it 31 games in a row in which she has scored at least ten points. Another player making a difference was Taylor Mckinzy, who posted 14 points.

Monroe smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 15 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least 11 offensive boards in eight consecutive matchups.

Meanwhile, Lovejoy came into Thursday's contest having lost four straight, but that streak is now in the rearview. They had just enough and edged Banneker out 58-56.

Monroe's victory bumped their record up to 7-3. As for Lovejoy, their win was their first in the region, bumping their region record up to 1-3 and their overall record up to 5-4.