Basketball Game Preview: McNeil Mavericks vs. Vandegrift Vipers

McNeil and Vandegrift are an even 5-5 against one another since January of 2021, but not for long. The McNeil Mavericks will welcome the Vandegrift Vipers at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. McNeil is coming into the matchup on a four-game losing streak.

McNeil lost 43-19 to Stony Point on Tuesday. While losing is never fun, the Mavericks can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Texas basketball rankings (they are ranked 843rd, while the Tigers are ranked 353rd).

Meanwhile, Vandegrift hadn't done well against Vista Ridge recently (they were 1-8 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Wednesday. Vandegrift managed a 51-45 win over Vista Ridge. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Vipers.

Vandegrift's victory was their ninth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 23-8. The wins came thanks to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 57.7 points per game. As for McNeil, their defeat dropped their record down to 4-20.

McNeil took a serious blow against Vandegrift when the teams last played back in December of 2024, falling 65-22. Will McNeil have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.