Basketball Game Preview: Lutheran East Falcons vs. Shaker Heights Red Raiders

The Lutheran East Falcons will face off against the Shaker Heights Red Raiders at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Lutheran East is probably headed into the contest with a chip on their shoulder considering Warrensville Heights just ended the team's nine-game winning streak last Monday. They fell just short of the Tigers by a score of 60-57. The loss put an end to the Falcons' undefeated start to the season.

Despite their defeat, Lutheran East saw several players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. Ja'Tayvea Caldwell, who almost dropped a double-double on 18 points and nine boards, was perhaps the best of all. Caldwell is on a roll when it comes to rebounds, as she's now pulled down eight or more in the last three games she's played. Nae Ibekwe was another key player, dropping a double-double on 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Shaker Heights, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Friday. They slipped by Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 39-38 on Monday.

Having lost for the first time this season, Lutheran East fell to 9-1. As for Shaker Heights, their win was their sixth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 6-8.

Lutheran East was able to grind out a solid victory over Shaker Heights in their previous meeting back in January of 2024, winning 50-40. Will Lutheran East repeat their success, or does Shaker Heights have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.