Basketball Game Preview: Jackson Red Devils vs. Central Chargers

Jackson is 2-8 against Central since February of 2019 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Red Devils are taking a road trip to take on the Chargers at 7:30 p.m. Jackson has given up an average of 67.9 points per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

For whatever reason, it's the away team that's had the advantage when Jackson and Lamar County meet (four straight games heading into this one) and that held true again on Tuesday. The Red Devils fell 70-59 to the Trojans.

Even though the team lost, they still had their share of impressive performances. One of the best came from Ryan Smith, who went 6-for-10 en route to 15 points. The team also got some help courtesy of Kalik Smith, who posted eight points in addition to five rebounds and four steals.

Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Central, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Tuesday. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Westside on Wednesday, sneaking past 44-42. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Chargers have posted since December 13, 2024.

Jackson's loss dropped their record down to 3-5. As for Central, with the win, they broke their five-game losing streak and moved their record to 2-6.

Jackson lost to Central on the road by a decisive 63-45 margin in their previous matchup back in November of 2024. Can the Red Devils avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.