After flying high against the Utah Military Academy - Hill Field Thunderbirds last Friday, the Merit Preparatory Academy Knights came back down to earth. Merit Preparatory Academy fell 45-33 to Waterford on Tuesday. Merit Preparatory Academy has struggled against Waterford recently, as their contest on Tuesday was their eighth consecutive lost matchup.
When it comes to explaining why Merit Preparatory Academy lost, one person who can't be blamed is Lizbeth Diaz. Despite the final result, she scored 12 points. Ayla Coltharp was another key contributor, scoring eight points.
Waterford's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Anne Howard led the charge by scoring 13 points along with six rebounds and three steals. Another player making a difference was Kenley Carter, who dropped a double-double on 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Merit Preparatory Academy has not been sharp recently, as they've lost six of their last eight matchups, which put a noticeable dent in their 4-11 record this season. As for Waterford, their win bumped their record up to 8-3.
Both teams are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Merit Preparatory Academy won't have much time to rest: their next game is against Utah Military Academy - Camp Williams at 7:00 p.m. on January 17th. The matchup should be an exciting one, as these teams are ranked near one another in Utah (Utah Military Academy - Camp Williams is ranked 126th, while Merit Preparatory Academy is ranked 128th). As for Waterford, they will be playing in front of their home fans against Maeser Prep Academy at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday.
