Two dominant guards in Joshua Thompson and Deshawn Hall are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Bessemer Academy Rebels will challenge the Valiant Cross Academy Warriors at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. One thing working in Bessemer Academy's favor is that they have posted at least 55 points in their last three games.
Last Monday, Bessemer Academy humbled Restoration Academy with a 74-31 victory. The Rebels have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won ten matchups by 23 points or more this season.
Bessemer Academy's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Thompson, who posted 16 points and four steals. Another player making a difference was Jackson Rinehart, who put up eight points and eight steals.
Bessemer Academy smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 17 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least 17 offensive boards in three consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, with a playoff win on the line, Valiant Cross Academy rose to the challenge on Friday. They took down the Knights 58-39. Given the Warriors' advantage in MaxPreps' Alabama basketball rankings (they are ranked 53rd, while the Knights are ranked 275th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Bessemer Academy better keep an eye on Hall. He was instrumental in Valiant Cross Academy's win, dropping a double-double on 22 points and 12 rebounds. Hall is on a roll when it comes to boards, as he's now pulled down eight or more in the last 52 games he's played dating back to last season. Jordan Archie was another key player, putting up 11 points.
Bessemer Academy has been performing incredibly well recently as they've won nine of their last ten games, which provided a nice bump to their 17-2 record this season. As for Valiant Cross Academy, the win made it two in a row for them and bumps their season record up to 23-5.
Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Bessemer Academy has been crashing the boards this season, having averaged 41 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Valiant Cross Academy struggles in that department as they've been averaging 56.5 boards. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
