Basketball Game Preview: North Callaway Thunderbirds vs. Centralia Panthers

North Callaway hasn't had much luck against Centralia recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Thunderbirds will be defending their home court for the first time this season when they go up against the Panthers at 7:30 p.m. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.

North Callaway is coming home in high spirits after they had to open their season on the road against Missouri Military Academy. The Thunderbirds blew past the Fighting Colonels 80-25 on Saturday. The game was pretty much decided by the half, when the score had already reached 49-14.

Jamarion Glover

Assists

11/22/25 @ Missouri Military Academy	3
02/26/25 vs Montgomery County	2
02/24/25 vs Missouri Military Academy	1
02/15/25 @ Montgomery County	1
02/07/25 @ Elsberry	2
+ 7 more games

North Callaway relied on the efforts of Jamarion Glover, who dropped a double-double with 20 points and 13 boards, and Jacob Blevins, who went 6-for-11 en route to 16 points along with seven assists and five steals. What's more, Glover posted three assists, the most he's had since back in January. The team also got some help courtesy of Austin Brown, who shot 56% from the field on his way to 11 points and three steals.

Meanwhile, Centralia took care of business in their home opener (barely) on Tuesday. They narrowly escaped with a win as the squad sidled past California 55-53. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Panthers have posted since December 17, 2024.

North Callaway suffered a grim 62-38 defeat to Centralia in their previous meeting back in December of 2024. That contest was all but decided by halftime, at which point the Thunderbirds were down 42-21.