Fort Ann is 8-2 against Salem since January of 2018, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Friday. The Fort Ann Cardinals will be playing at home against the Salem Generals at 5:30 p.m. Given that the two teams suffered a loss in their last game, they both have a little extra motivation heading into this contest.
Last Wednesday, Fort Ann came up short against Hadley Luzerne and fell 46-34. The loss unfortunately continues a disappointing trend for Fort Ann in their matchups with Hadley Luzerne: they've now lost five in a row.
Fort Ann's loss shouldn't obscure the performances of Kadynce Cutter, who dropped a double-double on ten points and 20 rebounds, and Javier Hernandez who almost dropped a double-double on 14 points and nine rebounds. Cutter is on a roll when it comes to blocks, as he's now posted two or more in the last six games he's played.
Even though they lost, Fort Ann smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 16 offensive rebounds. This was only their tenth loss (out of 13 games) when they hit their own glass that hard.
Meanwhile, sadly, Salem is still looking for their first win of the season after 17 games. They were outmatched by Lake George at home and fell 61-27. Salem was in a tough position after the first half, with the score already sitting at 30-6.
Even though the team lost, they still had their share of impressive performances. One of the best came from Josh Harrington, who scored five points along with 12 rebounds and two steals. He has been hot recently, having posted ten or more rebounds the last five times he's played. Blaise Barrett was another key contributor, scoring nine points along with four steals.
Fort Ann has not been sharp recently as the team's lost ten of their last 11 matches, which put a noticeable dent in their 3-14 record this season. As for Salem, their loss was their 19th straight at home dating back to last season, which dropped their record down to 0-17.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Fort Ann have been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 31.4 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Salem struggles in that department as they've been averaging 31.6 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Fort Ann came out on top in a nail-biter against Salem in their previous meeting back in December of 2023, sneaking past 49-46. Does Fort Ann have another victory up their sleeve, or will Salem turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
