Basketball Game Preview: Hoggard Vikings vs. Ashley Screaming Eagle

Hoggard has gone 9-1 against Ashley recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Friday. The Vikings are taking a road trip to challenge the Screaming Eagle at 8:00 p.m. Hoggard is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 61.9 points per game this season.

Hoggard had to skate by with only a two-point margin when they last took the court, which might have inspired the 26-point drubbing they dealt North Brunswick on Tuesday. The Vikings blew past the Scorpions 69-43. The victory continues a trend for the Vikings in their matchups with the Scorpions: they've now won three in a row.

Hunter McGrath

Field Goal Percentage

01/20/26 vs North Brunswick	78%
01/16/26 @ New Hanover	23%
01/09/26 @ Topsail	75%
01/08/26 vs Laney	47%
01/06/26 vs West Brunswick	38%
+ 12 more games

Hoggard relied on the efforts of Hunter McGrath, who shot 78% from the field to rack up 19 points and five steals, and Will Seward, who went 5-for-7 en route to 17 points and three steals. The last time McGrath's shooting accuracy was this high was back in November of 2025. Lukas Batchelor was another key player, putting up six points and six boards.

Hoggard smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 12 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive rebounds in seven consecutive matchups.

The home team had won the previous seven meetings between Ashley and West Brunswick, and West Brunswick kept the tradition alive. The Screaming Eagle were dealt a 72-41 loss at the hands of the Trojans on Tuesday. The Screaming Eagle haven't had much luck with the Trojans recently, as the team has come up short the last three times they've met.

Ashley's defeat dropped their record down to 4-13. As for Hoggard, their win bumped their record up to 12-5.

Hoggard strolled past Ashley in their previous matchup back in February of 2025 by a score of 75-58. One of the biggest obstacles trying to stand in the way of that victory was the Screaming Eagle's Nate Jarrell, who almost dropped a double-double with 23 points and nine rebounds. Now that he won't be playing on Friday, will it be easier for the Vikings to walk away with another win? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.