Basketball Game Preview: Sports Leadership & Management vs. Mater Academy Charter Lions

Sports Leadership & Management will face off against the Mater Academy Charter Lions at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. One thing working in Sports Leadership & Management's favor is that they have posted at least 55 points in their last three games.

Sports Leadership & Management is headed in fresh off scoring the most points they have all season. They really took it to Dr. Krop for the full four quarters, racking up an 88-47 win. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest victory Sports Leadership & Management has posted since November 20, 2024.

Ethan Taylor was his usual excellent self, going 11 for 13 en route to 28 points along with seven boards and six steals. His evening made it three games in a row in which he has scored at least ten points. Jayden Vigo was another key player, going 7 of 13 on his way to 18 points.

Sports Leadership & Management was working as a unit and finished the game with 23 assists. That's the most assists they've managed all season.

Meanwhile, Mater Academy Charter came up short against Norland on Thursday and fell 61-49. While losing is never fun, the Lions can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Florida basketball rankings (they are ranked 275th, while the Vikings are ranked 54th).

Sports Leadership & Management pushed their record up to 8-9 with the win, which was their fifth straight at home. Those victories came thanks to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 69.6 points per game. As for Mater Academy Charter, they now have a losing record at 9-10.

Sports Leadership & Management came out on top in a nail-biter against Mater Academy Charter in their previous matchup back in December of 2023, sneaking past 65-62. One of the biggest obstacles trying to stand in the way of that victory was Mater Academy Charter's Jan Alicea, who went 6 for 8 en route to 23 points. Now that he won't be playing on Saturday, will it be easier for Sports Leadership & Management to walk away with another win? There's only one way to find out.