Preview: Washington Blue Lions vs. McClain Tigers
Washington has enjoyed the comforts of home their last two games, but now they'll head out on the road. They will face off against the McClain Tigers at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. McClain took a loss in their last contest and will be looking to turn the tables on Washington, who comes in off a win.
Two weeks ago, Washington earned a 62-54 win over Chillicothe. Given Washington's advantage in MaxPreps' Ohio basketball rankings (they are ranked 141st, while Chillicothe is ranked 525th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Washington's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Isaiah Haithcock, who dropped a double-double on 20 points and 11 rebounds. Haithcock continues to roll, besting his previous point total in each of the last three games he's played. Garrett Rickman was another key contributor, scoring 19 points along with six rebounds.
McClain suffered their biggest defeat since December 23, 2023 on Tuesday. They suffered a tough 53-30 defeat at the hands of Fairfield.
Washington pushed their record up to 10-2 with that victory, which was their 11th straight at home. Those good results were due in large part to their offensive dominance across that stretch, as they averaged 67.1 points per game. As for McClain, their defeat dropped their record down to 4-12.
Everything came up roses for Washington against McClain in their previous meeting back in December of 2023 as the team secured a 68-36 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for Washington since the team won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
