Basketball Game Preview: Lecanto Panthers vs. Crystal River Pirates

Two dominant guards in Bryleigh Florio and Angel Hughes are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Lecanto Panthers will challenge the Crystal River Pirates at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. Both come into the match bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

On Tuesday, Lecanto beat Hernando 54-41. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Panthers.

Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Crystal River, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Friday. They enjoyed a cozy 51-37 win over Citrus on Tuesday. The victory was some much needed relief for the Pirates as it spelled an end to their three-game losing streak.

Crystal River found their leader in sophomore Keyrra Ruiz, who posted 27 points. As a matter of fact, that's the most points Ruiz has scored all season. Calea Whitelow was another key player, putting up six points and seven rebounds.

Lecanto's record is now 11-9. As for Crystal River, their record now sits at 7-9.

Lecanto barely slipped by Crystal River in their previous meeting back in December of 2024, winning 48-47. The rematch might be a little tougher for Lecanto since the team won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.