Basketball Game Preview: Hermitage Panthers vs. Varina Blue Devils

The Hermitage Panthers will challenge the Varina Blue Devils at 6:00 p.m. on Monday. Having both just faced considerable losses, both teams are looking to turn things around.

It was a proper cat-fight when Hermitage faced off against Deep Run on Friday. Hermitage took a blow against Deep Run, falling 63-28. The Panthers have struggled against the Wildcats recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive lost matchup.

Meanwhile, Varina was not able to break out of their rough patch on Thursday as the team picked up their ninth straight loss. They were dealt a 79-23 defeat at the hands of Highland Springs. The Blue Devils were in a tough position after the first half, with the score already sitting at 43-13.

Hermitage will have to keep a close watch on Kya Ingram and Kaliyah Straughter, a pair of players who had a big impact on Varina's prior game. Ingram posted ten points in addition to six steals and five rebounds, while Straughter had six points along with 12 boards and three steals. Ingram has been hot for a while, having posted two or more steals the last 12 times she's played. Paris Harper also deserves some recognition as she scored her first point of the season.

Even though they lost, Varina smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 19 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least 11 offensive boards every time they've taken the court this season.

Hermitage's loss dropped their record down to 3-13. As for Varina, their defeat dropped their record down to 2-13.

Everything came up roses for Hermitage against Varina in their previous meeting back in January of 2024, as the squad secured a 57-23 victory. Will Hermitage repeat their success, or does Varina have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.