Basketball Game Preview: Westhill Warriors vs. Central Valley Academy Thunder

The Westhill Warriors will take on the Central Valley Academy Thunder at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Westhill is coming into the contest hot, having won their last ten games.

Westhill is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Saturday. They simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat Oneida 91-53. The Warriors' offense stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most points they've scored all season.

Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Central Valley Academy, who bounced back after a loss on the road two weeks ago. They walked away with a 65-55 victory over Mexico on Saturday. Given the Thunder's advantage in MaxPreps' New York basketball rankings (they are ranked 127th, while the Tigers are ranked 398th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.

Westhill better keep an eye on Calvin Jacquays. He was instrumental in Central Valley Academy's win, on his way to 26 points and three steals. The team also got some help courtesy of Brayden Smalls, who posted 14 points in addition to seven rebounds and five assists.

Central Valley Academy smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 12 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least 11 offensive rebounds in three consecutive matches.

Westhill pushed their record up to 19-2 with the win, which was their seventh straight at home. Those victories came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 67.9 points over those games. As for Central Valley Academy, their victory bumped their record up to 13-7.

Westhill beat Central Valley Academy 59-52 when the teams last played back in March of 2024. Will Westhill repeat their success, or does Central Valley Academy have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.