McCool Junction has enjoyed a two-game homestand but will soon have to dust off their road jerseys. They just played last night, but they'll still head out to face the Heartland Huskies at 3:30 p.m. on December 16th. McCool Junction knows how to get points on the board -- the team has finished with flashy point totals in its past four contests -- so hopefully Heartland likes a good challenge.
McCool Junction has made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won three matches by 22 points or more this season. They put the hurt on Shelby-Rising City with a sharp 62-40 win on Friday. Given McCool Junction's advantage in MaxPreps' Nebraska basketball rankings (they are ranked 30th, while Shelby-Rising City is ranked 143rd), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
McCool Junction's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Shelby Bandt, who scored 12 points along with seven rebounds and four steals. Those four steals set a new season-high mark for her. Another player making a difference was Claire Brugger, who scored ten points along with six rebounds and three steals.
Meanwhile, Heartland's recent rough patch got a bit rougher on Friday after their third straight loss. The contest between Heartland and Thayer Central wasn't particularly close, with Heartland falling 41-22. The loss unfortunately continues a disappointing trend for Heartland in their matchups with Thayer Central: they've now lost eight in a row.
McCool Junction's victory was their 14th straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 4-1. They've been dominating during the matchups in that stretch too, as they've won by an average of 28.71 points. As for Heartland, they have traveled a rocky road recently, as they've lost four of their last five contests, which put a noticeable dent in their 2-5 record this season.
Everything came up roses for McCool Junction against Heartland in their previous meeting back in December of 2022 as the squad secured a 60-31 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for McCool Junction since the team won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
