Basketball Recap: Rank Disadvantage No Problem for Bowen

Bowen proved they can win big on Tuesday (they won by 30) and on Thursday they proved they can win the close ones too. They skirted past the Urban Prep Academies Lions 50-48. The win was all the more spectacular given the Boilermakers' disadvantage in MaxPreps' Illinois basketball rankings (they are ranked 355th, while the Lions are ranked 161st).

Bowen has been performing well recently as they've won four of their last five games. That's provided a nice bump to their 6-3 record this season. Having lost for the first time this season, Urban Prep Academies fell to 6-1.

Coming up, Bowen won't have much time to rest: their next matchup is against McNair at 8:00 p.m. on Friday. The Boilermakers are facing the Mustangs at the right time seeing as the Mustangs are stuck on a five-game losing streak. As for Urban Prep Academies, they will have a little extra prep time after the loss as they won't be playing again for a while. They'll take on North Lawndale at 5:00 p.m. on January 6, 2026.