Basketball Game Preview: Mooresville Pioneers vs. Columbus North Bull Dogs

The Mooresville Pioneers will hit the road for the first time this season to challenge the Columbus North Bull Dogs at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Mooresville is headed into the contest out to prove that what happened against Indianapolis Bishop Chatard on Thursday (when they were outscored in every quarter) was just a minor bump in the road. The Pioneers were beaten by the Trojans 78-42. The Pioneers were down 59-34 at the end of the third quarter, and things only got worse from there.

Despite the loss, Mooresville saw an underclassman step up: sophomore Niah Craig posted 11 points. The team also got some help courtesy of Amelia Allison, who scored five points.

Meanwhile, Columbus North gave their fans exactly what they wanted out of a home opener on Saturday. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Franklin Community, sneaking past 58-55. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Bull Dogs have posted since December 17, 2024.

Columbus North's win came from a few key players Mooresville will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Riley Sims, who earned ten points and five steals. The dominant performance also gave her a new career-high in assists (four). Another player making a difference was Miley McClellan, who had nine points and six boards.

Mooresville lost to Columbus North on the road by a decisive 50-31 margin in their previous meeting back in November of 2024. Can the Pioneers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.