Basketball Game Preview: Yazoo County Panthers vs. Velma Jackson Falcons

The Yazoo County Panthers will head out to square off against the Velma Jackson Falcons at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. Yazoo County knows how to get points on the board -- the squad has finished with 55 points or more in their past four matchups -- so hopefully Velma Jackson likes a good challenge.

On Tuesday, Yazoo County was within striking distance but couldn't close the gap as they fell 70-65 to Hartfield Academy.

The losing side was boosted by Ladon Watts, who shot 70% from the field to rack up 16 points in addition to seven boards and five assists. Amari Southern was another key player, putting up 12 points and five steals.

Meanwhile, Velma Jackson earned a 53-46 win over McAdams on Tuesday. The Falcons haven't had any issues with the Bulldogs recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive victory against them.

Velma Jackson found their leader in sophomore Ethan Cook, who went 8-for-14 en route to 20 points along with eight rebounds and three steals. Another player making a difference was Christopher Mitchell, who posted six points and nine boards.

Yazoo County's defeat dropped their record down to 1-3. As for Velma Jackson, their win (their first of the season) made their record 1-2.

Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Yazoo County has been crashing the boards this season, having averaged 26 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Velma Jackson struggles in that department as they've been averaging 33 boards. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.

Yazoo County beat Velma Jackson 65-53 in their previous meeting back in November of 2024. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Panthers since the team won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.