Basketball Game Preview: Wheeler Bearcats vs. Kouts Mustangs & Fillies

The Wheeler Bearcats will head out on the road to square off against the Kouts Mustangs & Fillies at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. Wheeler has been getting the ball to fall more lately as they've increased their point totals each of their last three games.

Wheeler is headed into the game out to prove that what happened against Westville on Tuesday (when they were outscored in every quarter) was just a minor bump in the road. Wheeler lost 64-43 to Westville. The Bearcats have struggled against the Blackhawks recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive lost matchup.

Meanwhile, after a string of five wins, Kouts' good fortune finally ran out on Friday. 2025 welcomed they with a 49-29 loss courtesy of Rochester. The match marked the Mustangs & Fillies 's lowest-scoring contest so far this season.

Wheeler will have to keep a close watch on Bella Birky and Ellie Nemeth, a pair of players who had a big impact on Kouts' prior game. Birky posted 12 points, while Nemeth had six points along with eight rebounds and three steals.

Even though they lost, Kouts smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with ten offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least ten offensive boards in four consecutive games.

Kouts' defeat ended a three-game streak of wins at home and dropped them to 8-7. As for Wheeler, their loss dropped their record down to 3-11.

Wheeler beat Kouts 37-26 when the teams last played back in January of 2024. The rematch might be a little tougher for Wheeler since the team won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.