Basketball Game Preview: Palmetto Ridge Bears vs. Oasis Sharks

Having just played yesterday, the Palmetto Ridge Bears will head out on the road to face off against the Oasis Sharks at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. Palmetto Ridge is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 61.5 points per game this season.

Palmetto Ridge took a loss when they played away from home on Saturday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Wednesday. They simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat Mariner 89-56. Given the Bears' advantage in MaxPreps' Florida basketball rankings (they are ranked 294th, while the Tritons are ranked 722nd), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.

Palmetto Ridge got their victory on the backs of several key players, but it was Juju Castillo out in front who dropped a double-double on 25 points and 13 boards. That's the most rebounds Castillo has posted since back in December of 2024. Jaydon Soto was another key player, dropping a triple-double on 13 points, ten boards, and 14 assists.

Meanwhile, Oasis had to endure a three-game losing streak, but that streak is no more. They secured a 60-55 W over Evangelical Christian on Tuesday.

Palmetto Ridge's win was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 16-8. The wins came thanks to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 71.3 points per game. As for Oasis, their victory ended a five-game drought on the road and puts them at 14-10.

Everything came up roses for Palmetto Ridge against Oasis in their previous meeting back in December of 2022, as the squad secured a 73-46 win. In that game, Palmetto Ridge amassed a halftime lead of 44-18, an impressive feat they'll look to repeat on Thursday.