Basketball Game Preview: Smithfield-Selma Spartans vs. West Johnston Wildcats

Smithfield-Selma is on a four-game streak of home losses, West Johnston a seven-game streak of away losses dating back to last season, but someone's luck will change on Thursday. The Smithfield-Selma Spartans will host the West Johnston Wildcats at 7:30 p.m. Both teams took a loss in their last game, so they'll have plenty of motivation to get the 'W'.

It's never fun to lose, and it's even less fun to lose 92-41, which was the final score in Smithfield-Selma's tilt against C.B. Aycock on Friday. While losing is never fun, the Spartans can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' North Carolina basketball rankings (they are ranked 535th, while the Golden Falcons are ranked 208th).

Meanwhile, West Johnston came up short against Hunt on Thursday and fell 60-47. The Wildcats were down 46-25 at the end of the third quarter, which was just too much to recover from.

Smithfield-Selma will need focus on slowing down Josh Dyson, one of several West Johnston players who made an impact when they last played. He posted 15 points and seven boards. Caden Hartman was another key player, putting up eight points and nine rebounds.

Smithfield-Selma's loss dropped their record down to 2-10. As for West Johnston, their defeat dropped their record down to 4-10.

Smithfield-Selma was dealt a bruising 85-49 loss at the hands of West Johnston in their previous meeting back in February of 2024. That matchup was all but decided by halftime, at which point Smithfield-Selma was down 46-26.