Basketball Game Preview: Bluffton Pirates vs. Van Buren Black Knights

The Bluffton Pirates will take on the Van Buren Black Knights at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. Given that the two teams suffered a loss in their last games, they both have a little extra motivation heading into this game.

Bluffton is probably headed into the match with a chip on their shoulder considering Arlington just ended the team's six-game winning streak last Saturday. They fell just short of the Red Devils by a score of 55-53. The contest marked the Pirates' lowest-scoring game so far this season.

Meanwhile, Van Buren suffered their biggest defeat since March 1, 2024 on Friday. They were outmatched by Liberty-Benton and fell 66-33. The loss continues a trend for the Black Knights in their matchups with the Eagles: they've now lost six in a row.

Having lost for the first time this season, Bluffton fell to 6-1. As for Van Buren, their defeat dropped their record down to 4-4.

Everything came up roses for Bluffton against Van Buren when the teams last played back in January of 2024, as the squad secured an 81-54 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for Bluffton since the team won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.