Stuart is on a five-game streak of home wins (dating back to last season), while Elgin/Pope John is on a seven-game streak of away wins: one of those streaks is about to end. The Broncos will welcome the Wolfpack on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Stuart barely beat Chambers/Wheeler Central the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Broncos blew past the Renegades 42-22 on Tuesday.
Drew Schmaderer
| 01/13/26 @ Chambers/Wheeler Central | 19 |
| 01/10/26 vs Neligh-Oakdale | 16 |
| 01/08/26 @ Boyd County | 13 |
| 01/06/26 @ Anselmo-Merna | 12 |
| 12/30/25 @ Central Valley | 10 |
| + 7 more games |
Stuart's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Drew Schmaderer, who dropped a double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Schmaderer continues to improve, besting his previous point total in each of the last four games he's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Trey Wallinger, who posted eight points and five boards.
Meanwhile, Elgin/Pope John hadn't done well against Fullerton recently (they were 2-7 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Tuesday. The Wolfpack were the clear victors by a 53-32 margin over the Warriors.
Elgin/Pope John's win came from a few key players that Stuart will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Jarek Erickson, who dropped a double-double with 16 points and ten rebounds. He has been hot recently, having posted ten or more boards the last four times he's played. Karson Kallhoff was another key player, going 5-for-12 on his way to 15 points.
Elgin/Pope John's victory bumped their record up to 13-0. As for Stuart, their win bumped their record up to 9-3.
Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Stuart has been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 30.2 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Elgin/Pope John struggles in that department as they've been averaging 32.3 boards. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.
Stuart couldn't quite get it done against Elgin/Pope John when the teams last played back in February of 2025 as they fell 55-44. Will the Broncos have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
