Basketball Game Preview: Southern Wells Raiders vs. Elwood Panthers

The Southern Wells Raiders will face off against the Elwood Panthers at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Southern Wells is looking for their season's first win.

Last Thursday, Southern Wells took a blow against Jay County, falling 77-25. The match marked the Raiders' lowest-scoring contest so far this season.

Landon Johnson

Blocked Shots

02/06/25 vs Jay County	8
12/10/24 @ Eastbrook	5
01/14/25 vs Adams Central	4
12/20/24 @ Bluffton	2
01/11/25 vs Heritage	1

Despite the defeat, Southern Wells saw an underclassman step up: sophomore Landon Johnson posted two points in addition to eight blocks and three steals. Those eight blocks set a new season-high mark for Johnson. Jaxson Casterline also deserves some recognition as he posted his first block of the season.

Meanwhile, Elwood posted their biggest victory since February 20, 2024 on Monday. They claimed a resounding 59-31 win over GEO Next Generation.

Elwood's win came from a few key players Southern Wells will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Jayden Mullins, who went 5 for 7 en route to 10 points and six boards. What's more, he also posted a 71% field goal percentage, which is the highest he's posted since back in February of 2024. Jackson Gordon was another key player, putting up ten points.

Elwood smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 13 offensive rebounds. That's the most offensive boards they've managed all season.

Southern Wells' loss dropped their record down to 0-14. As for Elwood, they picked up their first road victory, bumping their record up to 3-13.

Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Southern Wells has been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 24.9 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Elwood struggles in that department as they've been averaging 21.6 boards. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.

Southern Wells beat Elwood 47-40 when the teams last played back in February of 2024. The rematch might be a little tougher for Southern Wells since the squad won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.