Basketball Game Preview: Ball Tornadoes vs. Freedom Patriots

The Ball Tornadoes and the Freedom Patriots will round out the year against one another at at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. Both teams took a loss in their last game, so they'll have plenty of motivation to get the 'W'.

Last Friday, Ball lost to Friendswood at home by a 52-37 margin. While losing is never fun, the Tornadoes can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Texas basketball rankings (they are ranked 448th, while the Mustangs are ranked 35th).

Meanwhile, Freedom suffered their closest loss since December 27, 2023 last Friday. They fell just short of King by a score of 54-51. The Patriots have struggled against the Lions recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive lost matchup.

Ball will need focus on slowing down Peter Radigan, one of several Freedom players who made an impact when they last played. He posted six points and 19 rebounds. Radigan is on a roll when it comes to rebounds, as he's now pulled down ten or more in the last ten games he's played. Josh DeVore was another key player, putting up 12 points.

Even though they lost, Freedom smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 13 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least nine offensive boards in five consecutive matches.

Freedom now has a losing record at 5-6. As for Ball, they now also have a losing record at 5-6.