Preview: Garinger Wildcats vs. Independence Patriots
Garinger is 0-10 against the Patriots since January of 2019 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Garinger Wildcats will head out on the road to take on the Independence Patriots at 6:00 p.m. Garinger is no doubt hoping to put an end to a four-game streak of away losses.
Last Tuesday, Garinger didn't have too much trouble with the Eagles at home as they won 51-36.
Garinger's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Raziah Mitchell led the charge by dropping a double-double on 12 points and 18 rebounds. Kim'mya Kelly was another key contributor, scoring 16 points along with four steals.
Meanwhile, Independence faced the Cougars in a battle between two of the state's top teams. Independence fell to the Cougars 49-43. Independence's loss signaled the end of their four-game winning streak.
Despite their loss, Independence saw several players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. Kamryn Kitchen, who scored 12 points along with two steals, was perhaps the best of all. Kitchen hasn't dropped below two steals for nine straight games. Another player making a difference was Jessica Worthey, who scored eight points.
Independence struggled to get the ball back on offense and finished the game with only four offensive rebounds. They were crushed by their opponents in that department as Charlotte Catholic pulled down 15 offensive rebounds.
Garinger's win bumped their record up to 12-8. As for Independence, their loss ended a seven-game streak of away wins and brought them to 14-5.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Garinger have been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 33.1 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Independence struggles in that department as they've been averaging 33.1 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Garinger was dealt a bruising 73-25 defeat at the hands of the Patriots in their previous meeting back in December of 2023. The match was all but decided by halftime, at which point Garinger was down 45-19.
