Basketball Game Preview: Columbia Capitals vs. Batesburg-Leesville Panthers

The Columbia Capitals just played yesterday, but they'll still head out to face the Batesburg-Leesville Panthers at 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday. Columbia is coming into the matchup on a six-game losing streak.

Columbia is headed into the contest out to prove that what happened against Pelion on Monday (when they were outscored in every quarter) was just a minor bump in the road. 2025 welcomed Columbia with a 53-31 loss courtesy of Pelion. The game marked the Capitals' lowest-scoring matchup so far this season.

Meanwhile, Batesburg-Leesville unfortunately witnessed the end of their five-game winning streak back in December of 2024. They received a blow as they fell 72-56 to Augusta Christian. While losing is never fun, the Panthers can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' basketball rankings in their respective home states (they are ranked 172nd in South Carolina, while the Lions are ranked 18th in Georgia).

Columbia will need focus on slowing down Braylen Davis, one of several Batesburg-Leesville players who made an impact when they last played. He posted 11 points in addition to seven boards and three steals. Davis has been hot, having posted two or more steals the last eight times he's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Ta'Maj Gilliam, who had 15 points and seven rebounds.

Even though they lost, Batesburg-Leesville smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 20 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive rebounds in eight consecutive contests.

Batesburg-Leesville's defeat dropped their record down to 5-5. As for Columbia, their loss dropped their record down to 3-10.

Everything went Columbia's way against Batesburg-Leesville in their previous meeting back in January of 2023, as Columbia made off with a 59-35 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for Columbia since the squad won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.