The Lakeside Panthers will be playing at home against the South Effingham Mustangs at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, the pair will really light up the scoreboard.
Last Tuesday, Lakeside was within striking distance but couldn't close the gap as they fell 59-55 to Effingham County. Lakeside has now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Despite the defeat, Lakeside had strong showings from Bryce Reynierson, who scored 18 points along with six rebounds and two steals, and Ty Jones, who scored 21 points. As a matter of fact, that's the most points Jones has scored all season. Brandon Grissom Jr was another key contributor, scoring six points along with four steals.
Meanwhile, this season hasn't been kind to South Effingham, who are still winless after their 17th matchup. They fell 83-71 to Brunswick on Thursday.
South Effingham's loss shouldn't obscure the performances of Corbin McGuire, who scored 27 points, and Aidan Harris who scored 18 points. That's the first time this season that McGuire scored 15 or more points. Another player making a difference was Will Harlin, who scored nine points.
Lakeside has not been sharp recently, as they've lost five of their last six contests, which put a noticeable dent in their 10-9 record this season. As for South Effingham, their loss was their 16th straight on the road, which dropped their record down to 0-17.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Lakeside have been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 33.3 rebounds per game. However, it's not like South Effingham struggles in that department as they've been averaging 27.5 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Lakeside beat South Effingham 74-62 when the teams last played back in February of 2023. Will Lakeside repeat their success, or does South Effingham have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
