Basketball Game Preview: South Mecklenburg Sabres vs. Ardrey Kell Knights

The South Mecklenburg Sabres will face off against the Ardrey Kell Knights at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday. South Mecklenburg knows how to get points on the board -- the team has finished with 55 points or more in their past six games -- so hopefully Ardrey Kell likes a good challenge.

Last Saturday, South Mecklenburg was able to grind out a solid win over White Oak, taking the game 65-56.

South Mecklenburg got their victory on the backs of several key players, but it was Jim Gatehouse out in front who posted 16 points and five rebounds. Another player making a difference was Ben Houpt, who went 5 for 11 on his way to 15 points.

Meanwhile, Ardrey Kell blew past Legion Collegiate Academy, posting a 74-47 win. The Knights have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won five matchups by 20 points or more this season.

South Mecklenburg better keep an eye on Brett Freeman. He was instrumental in Ardrey Kell's win, going 9 of 16 en route to 21 points along with eight assists and seven boards. That's the most rebounds Freeman has posted since back in February of 2024. Matthew Craft was another key player, putting up 12 points.

South Mecklenburg has been performing incredibly well recently as they've won six of their last seven contests, which provided a massive bump to their 10-7 record this season. The wins came thanks to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 66.0 points per game. As for Ardrey Kell, their victory bumped their record up to 13-3.

Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: South Mecklenburg has been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 24.8 boards per game. However, it's not like Ardrey Kell struggles in that department as they've been averaging 31.2 rebounds. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.

South Mecklenburg and Ardrey Kell were neck-and-neck in their previous meeting back in February of 2024, but South Mecklenburg came up empty-handed after a 73-72 defeat. Will South Mecklenburg 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.