Basketball Game Preview: Carbondale Area Chargers vs. Lakeland Chiefs

Carbondale Area and Lakeland are an even 5-5 against one another since February of 2021, but not for long. The Carbondale Area Chargers will venture away from home to challenge the Lakeland Chiefs at 6:45 p.m. on Friday. Carbondale Area is looking for their season's first win.

Carbondale Area is headed into the matchup out to prove that what happened against Mid Valley on Wednesday (when they were outscored in every quarter) was just a minor bump in the road. Carbondale Area was dealt a 49-19 defeat at the hands of Mid Valley. The Chargers were down 48-9 at the end of the third quarter, which was just too much to recover from.

Meanwhile, Lakeland escaped with a win on Wednesday against Pittston by the margin of a single free throw, 43-42.

Lakeland found their leader in sophomore Chase Rosenkrans, who went 9 of 19 on his way to 19 points in addition to six steals and five boards. Rosenkrans is on a roll when it comes to steals, as he's now grabbed two or more in the last four games he's played dating back to last season. The team also got some help courtesy of David Naniewicz, who almost dropped a double-double on 11 points and nine boards.

Lakeland's first victory this season bumped their record up to 1-2. As for Carbondale Area, their loss dropped their record down to 0-3.

Carbondale Area won a contest that couldn't have been any closer in their previous matchup back in February, slipping by Lakeland 65-64. The rematch might be a little tougher for Carbondale Area since the squad won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.