Basketball Game Preview: Mercy Magic vs. Archbishop Spalding Cavaliers

Mercy is on a six-game streak of home losses dating back to last season, Archbishop Spalding a three-game streak of away losses, but someone's luck will change on Friday. The Mercy Magic will welcome the Archbishop Spalding Cavaliers at 5:45 p.m. Given that both suffered a loss in their last games, they both have a little extra motivation heading into this matchup.

Mercy is headed into the game having just suffered their biggest defeat since December 6, 2023 on Wednesday. They took a blow against St. Frances Academy, falling 81-34. While losing is never fun, the Magic can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Maryland basketball rankings (they are ranked 103rd, while the Panthers are ranked seventh).

Meanwhile, Archbishop Spalding came up short against McDonogh on Wednesday and fell 55-46.

Archbishop Spalding's loss dropped their record down to 4-12. As for Mercy, their defeat dropped their record down to 2-9.

Mercy came out on top in a nail-biter against Archbishop Spalding when the teams last played back in December of 2024, sneaking past 62-59. Will Mercy repeat their success, or does Archbishop Spalding have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.