Basketball Game Preview: Hampton Roads Academy Navigators vs. Catholic Crusaders

Hampton Roads Academy hasn't had much luck against Catholic recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Hampton Roads Academy Navigators will face off against the Catholic Crusaders at 5:30 p.m. Both teams are coming into the match red-hot, with Hampton Roads Academy sitting on 12 straight victories and Catholic on four.

Last Tuesday, Hampton Roads Academy strolled past Norfolk Academy with points to spare, taking the game 49-32.

Hampton Roads Academy got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Nalani Carter out in front who dropped a double-double on 11 points and 13 rebounds. The dominant performance also gave Carter a new career-high in steals (seven). Another player making a difference was Zuriel Pendleton-Morant, who went 6 for 12 on her way to 15 points and three steals.

Hampton Roads Academy smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 16 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least 16 offensive boards in six consecutive games.

Meanwhile, Catholic faced Bishop O'Connell in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Wednesday. Catholic blew past Bishop O'Connell 55-35. The Crusaders have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won six contests by 20 points or more this season.

Catholic pushed their record up to 11-6 with the victory, which was their 16th straight at home dating back to last season. The wins came thanks to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 75.0 points per game. As for Hampton Roads Academy, their record now sits at 13-1.

Hampton Roads Academy was dealt a bruising 81-13 defeat at the hands of Catholic in their previous matchup back in February of 2024. Can Hampton Roads Academy avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.