The Pensacola Catholic Crusaders will play host again and welcome the L.E.A.D. Academy Lions, where tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, both teams will really light up the scoreboard.
Pensacola Catholic fought the good fight in their overtime game against the Jaguars on Tuesday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell 71-64 to the Jaguars. The loss unfortunately continues a disappointing trend for Pensacola Catholic in their matchups with the Jaguars: they've now lost seven in a row.
Even though the team lost, they still had their share of impressive performances. One of the best came from Derion Gould, who almost dropped a double-double on 22 points and nine rebounds. It was the first time this season that he scored 15 or more points. Jackson Pearson was another key contributor, scoring 12 points along with seven rebounds and three steals.
L.E.A.D. Academy has not had quite the year their fans were hoping for to this point, but back-to-back wins may be a sign of good things to come. They took their contest at home on Tuesday with ease, bagging a 64-17 win over South Baldwin Christian Academy. That 47 point margin sets a new team best for L.E.A.D. Academy this season.
L.E.A.D. Academy's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Donovan Dean led the charge by scoring 15 points along with six rebounds and two steals. The team also got some help courtesy of Noah Hinshaw, who scored seven points along with nine rebounds and three steals.
Pensacola Catholic has traveled a rocky road recently having lost five of their last six games, which put a noticeable dent in their 5-19 record this season. As for L.E.A.D. Academy, their victory bumped their record up to 5-16.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Pensacola Catholic have been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 28 rebounds per game. However, it's not like L.E.A.D. Academy struggles in that department as they've been averaging 25.7 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Everything came up roses for Pensacola Catholic against the Lions in their previous matchup back in November of 2023 as the team secured a 77-34 victory. Will Pensacola Catholic repeat their success, or do the Lions have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
