Basketball Game Preview: Jasper Pirates vs. Lead Hill Tigers

Having just played yesterday, the Jasper Pirates will jump right back in to play the Lead Hill Tigers at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. Both teams are coming into the contest red-hot, with Jasper sitting on six straight victories and Lead Hill on three.

On Friday, everything came up roses for Jasper against Ashdown as the squad secured a 68-31 win. The Pirates have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won eight matchups by 29 points or more this season.

It was another big night for Blake Williams, who posted 17 points. Ty Floyd was another key player, putting up 13 points.

Meanwhile, Lead Hill hadn't done well against Flippin recently (they were 0-9 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Thursday. The Tigers managed a 75-71 victory over the Bobcats.

Lead Hill's win came from a few key players Jasper will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Dawson Lively, who dropped a double-double with 23 points and ten assists. That's the most points he has posted since back in December of 2024. Another player making a difference was Noah Royce, who earned 13 points along with eight boards and four steals.

Lead Hill smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 12 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least 12 offensive rebounds in three consecutive games.

Lead Hill's win bumped their record up to 9-1. As for Jasper, their victory bumped their record up to 10-1.

Jasper beat Lead Hill 81-69 in their previous matchup back in February. Will the Pirates repeat their success, or do the Tigers have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.