Basketball Game Preview: Lafayette Jefferson Bronchos vs. Clinton Prairie Gophers

The Lafayette Jefferson Bronchos will look to defend their home court on Thursday against the Clinton Prairie Gophers at 7:30 p.m. The timing is sure in Lafayette Jefferson's favor as the team sits on four straight wins at home while Clinton Prairie has been banged up by four consecutive losses on the road.

Lafayette Jefferson will bounce into Thursday's matchup after beating Harrison, who they had gone 1-8 against in their nine prior meetings. Lafayette Jefferson walked away with a 39-29 win over Harrison on Tuesday. While the Bronchos didn't have the best season last year (they finished 4-20), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.

Maya Layton was her usual excellent self, dropping a double-double on 11 points and ten boards. She has been hot, having also posted two or more steals the last six times she's played. Da'Niyah Johnson was another key player, putting up six points and three steals.

Meanwhile, Clinton Prairie came into Tuesday's contest having lost three straight, but that streak is now in the rearview. They enjoyed a cozy 52-34 victory over Tri-Central on Tuesday. The game marked the Gophers' most dominant win of the season so far.

Clinton Prairie's win came from a few key players Lafayette Jefferson will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Abbey Swan, who went 8 of 14 on her way to 20 points and eight rebounds. The team also got some help courtesy of Hyleigh Wilson, who went 5 of 10 on her way to 13 points along with seven steals and three blocks.

Lafayette Jefferson's victory bumped their record up to 7-1. As for Clinton Prairie, their win bumped their record up to 4-5.

Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Lafayette Jefferson has been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 33.2 boards per game. However, it's not like Clinton Prairie struggles in that department as they've been averaging 22.4 boards. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.

Lafayette Jefferson beat Clinton Prairie 46-38 in their previous meeting back in December of 2023. Does Lafayette Jefferson have another victory up their sleeve, or will Clinton Prairie turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.