Basketball Game Preview: Lugoff-Elgin Demons vs. Ridge View Blazers

Lugoff-Elgin hasn't had much luck against Ridge View recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Lugoff-Elgin Demons will venture away from home to challenge the Ridge View Blazers at 6:00 p.m.

Lugoff-Elgin is headed into Thursday's game looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their fourth straight game on Friday. They took a blow against Spring Valley, falling 84-31. While losing is never fun, the Demons can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' South Carolina basketball rankings (they are ranked 131st, while the Vikings are ranked 12th).

Lugoff-Elgin's loss shouldn't obscure the performances of Erin Manuel, who posted four points and seven boards, and Teryn Hobson, who earned six points along with 12 rebounds and six assists. Hobson is also on a roll when it comes to steals, as she's now grabbed two or more in the last 12 games she's played.

Even though they lost, Lugoff-Elgin smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 20 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive boards in nine consecutive matches.

Meanwhile, Ridge View made easy work of Jackson Day on Monday and carried off a 68-47 victory.

Ridge View is also on a roll lately: they've won five of their last six contests, which provided a massive bump to their 11-7 record this season. The wins came thanks to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 64.5 points per game. As for Lugoff-Elgin, their defeat dropped their record down to 8-11.

Lugoff-Elgin took a serious blow against Ridge View in their previous meeting back in January of 2024, falling 82-44. That game was all but decided by halftime, at which point Lugoff-Elgin was down 44-23.