Basketball Game Preview: Eagle Ridge Academy Warriors vs. Jefferson Academy Jaguars

The Eagle Ridge Academy Warriors will venture away from home to take on the Jefferson Academy Jaguars at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Eagle Ridge Academy has a tough task ahead: they'll enter the game with four straight losses, while Jefferson Academy will come in with three straight wins.

On Wednesday, Eagle Ridge Academy came up short against Denver Christian and fell 63-50. While losing is never fun, the Warriors can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Colorado basketball rankings (they are ranked 239th, while the Thunder are ranked 96th).

Meanwhile, it was a proper cat-fight when Jefferson Academy took on Littleton on Saturday. Jefferson Academy took down Littleton 47-33.

Eagle Ridge Academy better keep an eye on Jimeto Orji. He was instrumental in Jefferson Academy's win, almost dropping a double-double on 17 points and nine rebounds. The dominant performance also gave Orji a new career-high in blocks (four). Another player making a difference was Riley Prevost, who posted eight points in addition to five boards and five steals.

Jefferson Academy 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 three consecutive matchups.

Jefferson Academy's victory was their eighth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 11-2. Those victories came thanks to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 64.5 points per game. As for Eagle Ridge Academy, their defeat dropped their record down to 4-10.

Eagle Ridge Academy skirted past Jefferson Academy 42-39 in their previous matchup back in February of 2024. One of the biggest obstacles the team faced in that game was Orji, who almost dropped a double-double on 15 points and nine rebounds. Now that he's got a second chance to win this matchup, will Eagle Ridge Academy still be able to contain Orji? There's only one way to find out.