Basketball Game Preview: Chicago Marshall Commandos vs. Phillips Wildcats

Two dominant guards in Darrin Laye and Messiah Horton are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Chicago Marshall Commandos will take on the Phillips Wildcats in a tournament on Saturday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, the two teams will really light up the scoreboard.

Chicago Marshall took a loss when they played away from home on Tuesday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Thursday. They blew past DRW College Prep 70-36. The Commandos have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won five matchups by 25 points or more this season.

Meanwhile, Phillips was able to grind out a solid victory over Farragut on Thursday, taking the game 55-47. Given the Wildcats' advantage in MaxPreps' Illinois basketball rankings (they are ranked 159th, while the Admirals are ranked 454th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.

Chicago Marshall's win was their 12th straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 9-6. The wins came thanks to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 66.4 points per game. As for Phillips, they now have a winning record of 10-9.

Chicago Marshall couldn't quite finish off Phillips in their previous meeting back in December of 2021 and fell 51-48. Will Chicago Marshall 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.