Basketball Preview: Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders vs. North Raleigh Christian Academy Knights
The Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders and the North Raleigh Christian Academy Knights are set to duel on Tuesday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: both posted some lofty point totals in their previous games.
Having struggled with three defeats in a row, Cardinal Gibbons finally turned things around against Heritage on Saturday. They enjoyed a cozy 67-52 victory over the Huskies.
It was another big night for Cash Mcsweeney, who dropped a double-double on 20 points and 13 rebounds. He has been hot for a while, having posted eight or more rebounds the last 14 times he's played. Another player making a difference was Nicholas Ercolino, who posted 11 points.
Cardinal Gibbons smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 14 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive rebounds in six consecutive matchups.
Meanwhile, North Raleigh Christian Academy didn't have quite enough to beat Covenant Day on Saturday and fell 58-56. The Knights have struggled against the Lions recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive lost matchup.
Despite the loss, North Raleigh Christian Academy saw an underclassman step up: sophomore Brennen Jefferson went 9 for 15 en route to 21 points plus six rebounds. What's more, Jefferson also racked up three threes, the most he's had since back in December of 2023. Cody Dickerson was another key player, earning 14 points.
The win got Cardinal Gibbons back to even at 3-3. As for North Raleigh Christian Academy, their defeat dropped their record down to 3-5.
Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Cardinal Gibbons has been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 31.8 rebounds per game. However, it's not like North Raleigh Christian Academy struggles in that department as they've been averaging 24.8. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.
Cardinal Gibbons came up short against North Raleigh Christian Academy when the teams last played back in January, falling 60-53. Will Cardinal Gibbons have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other basketball content.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
