The Harrison Raiders's road trip will continue as they head out to face the Lafayette Jefferson Bronchos at 6:00 p.m. on February 2nd. Hopefully Harrison is not getting complacent, as they presents a significant challenge as they come into the match much higher ranked than the Bronchos in Indiana (the Raiders are ranked 140th, while the Bronchos are ranked 301st).
With a playoff game on the line, Harrison rose to the challenge on Tuesday. They simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat the Giants 71-29 on the road. Harrison's offense stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most points they've scored all season.
Riley Whitlock continued her habit of posting crazy stat lines, dropping a double-double on 29 points and ten rebounds. As a matter of fact, that's the most points she has scored all season. Another player making a difference was Ava Ahnert, who scored 12 points along with five assists and five steals.
Meanwhile, Lafayette Jefferson's recent rough patch got a bit rougher on Thursday after their third straight loss. They took a serious blow against Carroll, falling 64-21. The result shouldn't come as a shock considering that's the fewest points Lafayette Jefferson has scored all season.
Despite the loss, Lafayette Jefferson saw an underclassman step up: Janeal Capers scored four points.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the score, Lafayette Jefferson struggled to work together and finished the game with only two assists. They were crushed by their opponents in that department as Carroll racked up 16 assists.
The victory got Harrison back to even at 12-12. As for Lafayette Jefferson, they have traveled a rocky road recently having lost six of their last seven matchups, which put a noticeable dent in their 4-19 record this season.
Friday's match is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Harrison have been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 35.5 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Lafayette Jefferson struggles in that department as they've been averaging 23.6 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Harrison took their victory against the Bronchos in their previous matchup back in December of 2023 by a conclusive 53-32. The rematch might be a little tougher for Harrison since the team won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
