Basketball Game Preview: Pikesville Panthers vs. Catonsville Comets

Pikesville is 4-0 against Catonsville since February of 2020 and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Monday. The Pikesville Panthers will be playing at home against the Catonsville Comets at 5:30 p.m. Pikesville is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 58.1 points per game this season.

Catonsville is hoping to do what Archbishop Spalding couldn't on Saturday: put an end to Pikesville's winning streak, which now stands at three games. Pikesville blew past Archbishop Spalding 53-31. The Panthers have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won five matches by 22 points or more this season.

Pikesville can attribute much of their success to Mariah Jones-Bey, who posted 18 points and six steals, and NyJae Malik-El, who went 7 of 16 on her way to 17 points in addition to seven steals and five boards. Malik-El's afternoon made it three games in a row in which she has scored at least ten points. The team also got some help courtesy of Ka?Nai Pyatt, who had seven points along with eight boards and four steals.

Pikesville smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 15 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least 15 offensive rebounds in three consecutive contests.

Meanwhile, Catonsville was within striking distance but couldn't close the gap on Friday as they fell 42-36 to Dulaney. The loss continues a trend for the Comets in their matchups with the Lions: they've now lost three in a row.

Pikesville pushed their record up to 7-1 with the win, which was their 14th straight at home dating back to last season. The wins came thanks to their defensive effort, having only surrendered 29.9 points per game. As for Catonsville, their defeat dropped their record down to 2-5.

Everything went Pikesville's way against Catonsville in their previous matchup back in December of 2023, as Pikesville made off with a 52-29 victory. Will Pikesville repeat their success, or does Catonsville have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.