Basketball Game Preview: Lincoln Lions vs. Pickerington North Panthers

A feisty cat fight will be fought as the Lions duke it out with the Panthers at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

Last Tuesday, Lincoln came up short against Westerville South and fell 66-54.

Meanwhile, Pickerington North entered their tilt with Pickerington Central on Tuesday with ten consecutive wins , and they'll enter their next game with 11. They strolled past the Tigers with points to spare, taking the game 75-58. Given the Panthers' advantage in MaxPreps' Ohio basketball rankings (they are ranked 19th, while the Tigers are ranked 122nd), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.

Pickerington North had a senior duo take command as Favor McFadden dropped a double-double with 27 points and ten rebounds and Arness Lawson went 8-for-12 to rack up 17 points in addition to eight boards and five assists. As a matter of fact, that's the most points McFadden has scored all season. Kendrick Duru was another key player, going 5-for-8 on his way to 11 points.

Pickerington North smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 17 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive rebounds in 32 consecutive matchups dating back to last season.

Pickerington North's victory was their sixth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 18-3. Those victories came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 62.2 points over those games. As for Lincoln, their defeat dropped their record down to 9-11.

Lincoln came up short against Pickerington North in their previous matchup back in January, falling 64-54. Will Lincoln have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more basketball content.