Basketball Game Preview: Jackson Christian Eagles vs. Harding Academy Lions

The Jackson Christian Eagles will take on the Harding Academy Lions at 3:30 p.m. on Friday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, the two teams will really light up the scoreboard.

Last Tuesday, Jackson Christian humbled Fayette Academy with a 71-34 victory. The Eagles have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won 11 games by 35 points or more this season.

Meanwhile, with a playoff win on the line, Harding Academy rose to the challenge on Monday. They breezed past the Gryphons to the tune of 62-21. The win was nothing new for the Lions as they're now sitting on five straight.

Harding Academy found their leader in sophomore Bella Rose Austin, who dropped a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Austin also set a new season-high mark in shooting accuracy with 88%. Emory Miller was another key player, going 7-for-11 en route to 14 points and eight boards.

Harding Academy smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 30 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive boards in 15 consecutive matches.

Harding Academy pushed their record up to 19-5 with the victory, which was their 13th straight at home dating back to last season. The wins came thanks in part to their defensive effort, having only surrendered 27.6 points over those games. As for Jackson Christian, their win bumped their record up to 19-9.

Jackson Christian was able to grind out a solid victory over Harding Academy in their previous meeting back in December of 2021, winning 50-39. Does Jackson Christian have another victory up their sleeve, or will Harding Academy turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.