Stem Preparatory Academy hasn't had much luck against Merrol Hyde Magnet recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Stem Preparatory Academy The Chargers will square off against the Merrol Hyde Magnet Hawks at 7:30 p.m. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Last Tuesday, Stem Preparatory Academy escaped with a win against Knowledge Academies by the margin of a single free throw, 48-47.
Stem Preparatory Academy's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Ikee Miles led the charge by putting up 12 points. Another player making a difference was Hazem Khalid, who posted 12 points.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Merrol Hyde Magnet, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Tuesday. They simply couldn't be stopped on Thursday as they easily beat Trousdale County 58-23. The Hawks have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won five contests by 25 points or more this season.
Merrol Hyde Magnet found their leader in sophomore Bennett Altepeter, who went 7 of 10 on his way to 15 points and seven rebounds. The team also got some help courtesy of Harrison Gill, who put up seven points.
Merrol Hyde Magnet's victory was their fifth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 9-4. As for Stem Preparatory Academy, their win bumped their record up to 2-4.
Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Stem Preparatory Academy has been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 28.3 boards per game. However, it's not like Merrol Hyde Magnet struggles in that department as they've been averaging 27.5 rebounds. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.
Stem Preparatory Academy took a serious blow against Merrol Hyde Magnet in their previous meeting back in November of 2023, falling 71-34. Can Stem Preparatory Academy avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
