Basketball Game Preview: Wheeler Eagles vs. Walnut Wildcats

The Wheeler Eagles will square off against the Walnut Wildcats at 6:00 p.m. on Monday. Wheeler is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 54.4 points per game this season.

Back in December of 2024, Wheeler didn't have too much breathing room in their match against Blue Mountain, but they still walked away with a 43-37 victory. Given the Eagles' advantage in MaxPreps' Mississippi basketball rankings (they are ranked 113th, while the Cougars are ranked 261st), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.

Wheeler's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Emma Kate Beckham, who posted 15 points and three steals. Beckham's evening made it three games in a row in which she has scored at least ten points. Paisley Lane was another key player, putting up 14 points and three steals.

Wheeler smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 12 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive rebounds in 15 consecutive games.

Meanwhile, Walnut came tearing into Saturday's contest with nine straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 22.9 points) and they left with even more momentum. They blew past the Tigers, posting a 70-38 victory. The Wildcats have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won 12 matches by 20 points or more this season.

Walnut's win bumped their record up to 15-1. As for Wheeler, their victory was their fourth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 11-6.

Wheeler took a serious blow against Walnut in their previous meeting back in November of 2023, falling 62-28. Will Wheeler have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more basketball content.