Basketball Game Preview: Cloverleaf Colts vs. Norton Panthers

Cloverleaf is 0-10 against Norton since December of 2019 but things could change on Wednesday. The Cloverleaf Colts will take on the Norton Panthers at 7:00 p.m. Cloverleaf is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 59.8 points per game this season.

While Cloverleaf didn't have the best season last year (they finished 8-15), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They secured a 57-52 W over Holy Name last Saturday. Given the Colts' advantage in MaxPreps' Ohio basketball rankings (they are ranked 142nd, while the Green Wave are ranked 372nd), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.

Evie Barth was her usual excellent self, putting up 16 points along with eight steals and five boards. Her evening made it four games in a row in which she has scored at least ten points. Kayla Shook was another key player, posting five points along with nine rebounds and three blocks.

Cloverleaf smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 12 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least nine offensive boards in 12 consecutive matches dating back to last season.

Meanwhile, it was a proper cat-fight when Norton faced off against Canfield on Monday. Norton opened the new year with a less-than-successful 31-20 defeat to Canfield. The game marked the Panthers' lowest-scoring contest so far this season.

Cloverleaf's record is now 9-1. As for Norton, they have been struggling recently as they've lost six of their last eight matches, which put a noticeable dent in their 3-8 record this season.

Cloverleaf lost to Norton on the road by a decisive 57-39 margin when the teams last played back in January of 2024. Can Cloverleaf avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.