Independence is 0-3 against Chambers since December of 2015 but things could change on Tuesday. The Independence Patriots will face off against the Chambers Cougars. Both teams are coming into the matchup red-hot, with Independence sitting on six straight victories and Chambers on seven.
Independence is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Mooresville, sneaking past 48-46. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Patriots have posted since February 22, 2024.
Lusemo Macharia
| 02/28/25 vs Mooresville | 4 |
| 02/25/25 vs Palisades | 3 |
| 02/21/25 vs Butler | 3 |
| 02/20/25 vs Providence | 5 |
| 02/14/25 vs Butler | 5 |
| + 4 more games |
Independence found their leader in sophomore Lusemo Macharia, who dropped a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Macharia has been hot for a while, having also posted three or more blocks the last nine times he's played. Carter Lee was another key player, putting up nine points.
Independence smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 15 offensive rebounds. That's the most offensive boards they've posted since back in February of 2024.
McDowell typically has all the answers at home, but on Friday Chambers proved too difficult a challenge. They came out on top against the Titans by a score of 65-58. Given the Cougars' advantage in MaxPreps' North Carolina basketball rankings (they are ranked 27th, while the Titans are ranked 102nd), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Chambers' win came from a few key players Independence will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Malik McCotter, who went 6-for-13 on his way to 17 points in addition to seven assists and five boards. The team also got some help courtesy of Markus Kerr, who posted 16 points.
Independence's victory was their 11th straight at home, which pushed their record up to 23-5. Those victories came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 64.9 points over those games. As for Chambers, their win bumped their record up to 21-8.
Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Independence has been crashing the boards this season, having averaged 21.3 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Chambers struggles in that department as they've been averaging 28 boards. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.
Independence came up short against Chambers in their previous matchup back in November of 2021, falling 69-59. Can Independence avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
