vs
| 01/14/23 - Away | 65-20 W |
| 01/15/22 - Away | 47-45 W |
| 01/16/21 - Home | 41-35 W |
| 12/30/20 - Away | 60-15 W |
| 01/18/20 - Away | 50-40 W |
| + 2 more games |
Howells-Dodge is 7-0 against Mead since February of 2015 and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Saturday. Having just played yesterday, the Howells-Dodge Jaguars will head out on the road to face off against the Mead Raiders at 2:00 p.m. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
On Friday, Howells-Dodge didn't have too much trouble with Wisner-Pilger as they won 46-31. Given the Jaguars' advantage in MaxPreps' Nebraska basketball rankings (they are ranked 50th, while the Gators are ranked 138th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Howells-Dodge's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Kenadie Throener led the charge by going 6 of 9 en route to 15 points. That's the most points Throener has posted since back in January of 2024. Peyten Becker was another key player, going 5 for 8 on her way to 11 points.
Meanwhile, Mead had to endure a 33-game losing streak dating back to last season, but that streak is no more. They snuck past Boys Town with a 42-36 victory on Thursday. The Raiders' offense stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most points they've scored all season.
Mead's win came from a few key players Howells-Dodge will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Riley Koranda, who posted 13 points and three steals. The team also got some help courtesy of Elizabeth Brennan, who scored ten points.
Mead was working as a unit and finished the game with ten assists. That's the most assists they've managed all season.
Howells-Dodge pushed their record up to 9-5 with the win, which was their fifth straight at home. Those victories came thanks to their defensive effort, having only surrendered 29.2 points per game. As for Mead, their victory ended a 15-game drought on the road dating back to last season and puts them at 1-11.
Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Howells-Dodge has been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 28.2 boards per game. However, it's not like Mead struggles in that department as they've been averaging 24.2 rebounds. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.
Everything came up roses for Howells-Dodge against Mead when the teams last played back in January of 2023, as the squad secured a 65-20 win. In that matchup, Howells-Dodge amassed a halftime lead of 38-10, an impressive feat they'll look to repeat on Saturday.
