Basketball Game Preview: Cherokee Christian Warriors vs. Lanier Christian Academy Lightning

The Cherokee Christian Warriors are taking a road trip to challenge the Lanier Christian Academy Lightning at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, the two teams will really light up the scoreboard.

Cherokee Christian is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Tuesday. They took down Cornerstone Prep Academy 70-52.

Meanwhile, Lanier Christian Academy posted their closest victory since January 23, 2024 on Friday. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 55-52 win over Horizon Christian Academy. The victory continues a trend for the Lightning in their matchups with the Warriors: they've now won three in a row.

Lanier Christian Academy's win came from a few key players Cherokee Christian will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Xavier Barber, who almost dropped a double-double with 20 points and nine rebounds. That's the most boards he has posted since back in December of 2024. Mekhi Barber was another key player, putting up 18 points in addition to eight rebounds and three steals.

Lanier Christian Academy smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 11 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least nine offensive rebounds in three consecutive matchups.

Cherokee Christian's record now sits at 7-15. As for Lanier Christian Academy, their record is now 20-5.

Things could have been worse for Cherokee Christian, but things could have been a whole lot better as they took a 78-62 loss to Lanier Christian Academy in their previous matchup back in December of 2024. A big factor in that loss was the dominant performance of Barber, who dropped a double-double with 32 points and 11 boards. Now that Cherokee Christian knows the damage he can cause, will they be able to stop him this time? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.