Basketball Game Preview: Burke Bulldogs vs. Phoenix Academy Firebirds

Two dominant guards in Nathaya Phoenix and Destiny Kinsey are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Burke Bulldogs and the Phoenix Academy Firebirds will round out the year against one another at at 10:30 a.m. on Monday. Given that both suffered a loss in their last games, they both have a little extra motivation heading into this game.

Burke is probably headed into the match with a chip on their shoulder considering Sissonville just ended the team's four-game winning streak on Saturday. They fell 57-44 to the Indians.

Despite the loss, Burke saw an underclassman step up: freshman Phoenix went 9 of 15 en route to 22 points and six rebounds.

Meanwhile, Phoenix Academy was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their fourth straight defeat. They were beaten by Sissonville 81-33. While losing is never fun, the Firebirds can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' basketball rankings in their respective home states (they are ranked 247th in North Carolina, while the Indians are ranked 25th in West Virginia).

Burke's loss dropped their record down to 7-5. As for Phoenix Academy, they now have a losing record at 4-5.

Everything came up roses for Burke against Phoenix Academy when the teams last played back in December of 2023, as the squad secured a 68-30 victory. In that contest, Burke amassed a halftime lead of 38-13, an impressive feat they'll look to repeat on Monday.