Preview: Hilton Head Prep Dolphins vs. George Walton Academy Bulldogs
Having just played yesterday, the Hilton Head Prep Dolphins will jump right back in to play the George Walton Academy Bulldogs at 3:30 p.m. on Friday. Hopefully Hilton Head Prep is not getting complacent, as they presents a significant challenge as they come into the match much higher ranked than George Walton Academy in their respective states (Hilton Head Prep is ranked 75th in South Carolina, while George Walton Academy is ranked 244th in Georgia).
Hilton Head Prep pushed their score all the way to 62 on Thursday, but even that wasn't enough to win. They took a 71-62 hit to the loss column at the hands of King's Ridge Christian.
The losing side was boosted by Billy Barron, who went 7 for 12 from beyond the arc en route to 21 points and 0 assists. He scored a full 33.9% of Hilton Head Prep's points, the third time in a row he's earned more than a third of the team's points. The team also got some help courtesy of Connor Campbell, who scored 11 points along with five assists.
Even though they lost, Hilton Head Prep were working as a unit and finished the game with 21 assists. That's the most assists they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, it may have taken overtime to finish the job, but George Walton Academy ultimately got the result they hoped for on Thursday. They came out on top against South Effingham by a score of 49-42.
George Walton Academy got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Logan Blalock out in front who dropped a double-double on 13 points and 14 rebounds. Blalock is on a roll when it comes to steals, as he's now grabbed two or more in the last seven games he's played. Another player making a difference was Isiah Sloan, who scored 15 points along with five steals.
Hilton Head Prep's defeat dropped their record down to 8-4. As for George Walton Academy, their win bumped their record up to 7-4.
Friday's matchup is shaping up to be a masterclass in shooting: Hilton Head Prep have been dynamite from deep this season, having drained 41.9% of their threes per game. However, it's not like George Walton Academy struggles in that department as they've drained 38.5% of their threes per game this season. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
