Basketball Game Preview: Jackson Day Mariners vs. Valor Preparatory Academy Owls

The Jackson Day Mariners will square off against the Valor Preparatory Academy Owls at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Jackson Day's defense has only allowed 29.1 points per game this season, so Valor Preparatory Academy's offense will have their work cut out for them.

Jackson Day's usually-dominant defense will be looking to make up for Friday's struggle, when Carolina International offense got past them. Jackson Day fell to Carolina International 72-66. While losing is never fun, the Mariners can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' North Carolina basketball rankings (they are ranked 276th, while the Comets are ranked 98th).

Meanwhile, Valor Preparatory Academy came up short against Sugar Creek Charter on Friday and fell 64-52. The Owls have struggled against the Wildcats recently, as the game was their third consecutive lost matchup.

Jackson Day's loss was their sixth straight on the road dating back to last season, which dropped their record down to 2-13. As for Valor Preparatory Academy, their defeat dropped their record down to 5-11.

Jackson Day might still be hurting after the 70-49 loss they got from Valor Preparatory Academy when the teams last played back in January of 2024. Can Jackson Day avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.