Basketball Game Preview: Pickerington North Panthers vs. Licking Heights Hornets

Pickerington North is on a seven-game streak of home losses dating back to last season, Licking Heights a three-game streak of away losses, but someone's luck will change on Friday. The Pickerington North Panthers will welcome the Licking Heights Hornets at 7:00 p.m. Both teams took a loss in their last game, so they'll have plenty of motivation to get the 'W'.

Last Saturday, Pickerington North was just a bucket shy of victory and fell 53-52 to Hilliard Darby. While losing is never fun, Pickerington North can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Ohio basketball rankings (they are ranked 413th, while Hilliard Darby is ranked 124th).

Meanwhile, Licking Heights played a tough game on Monday in which they were outscored in every quarter. They came up short against Olentangy Berlin, falling 52-31.

Licking Heights' defeat dropped their record down to 3-6. As for Pickerington North, their loss dropped their record down to 2-6.

Everything went Pickerington North's way against Licking Heights when the teams last played back in January of 2023, as Pickerington North made off with a 55-32 win. Does Pickerington North have another victory up their sleeve, or will Licking Heights turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.