The Fort White Indians will square off against the Bell Bulldogs on Thursday. Fort White is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 50.7 points per game this season.
Fort White is probably headed into the game with a chip on their shoulder considering Eastside just ended the team's three-game winning streak on Saturday. They fell 53-43 to the Rams.
Even though the team lost, they still had their share of impressive performances. One of the best came from Ya'Zuri Hollie, who made all 7 shots she took to post 16 points and three steals. That was a full 37.2% of Fort White's points, marking the seventh time in a row she's posted more than a third of the team's points. Another player making a difference was Isreal Hart, who made all 5 shots she took racking up 16 points in addition to four blocks and three steals.
Meanwhile, with a playoff win on the line, Bell rose to the challenge on Tuesday. They were the clear victor by a 59-39 margin over the Fightin' Tigers. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest win the Bulldogs have posted against the Fightin' Tigers since January 19, 2021.
Fort White better focus on containing Dacy Graham and Maddie Smith as the pair were huge in Bell's win. Graham dropped a double-double on 21 points and 23 boards, while Smith went 10 for 19 en route to 22 points and five steals. Graham is on a roll when it comes to rebounds, as she's now pulled down eight or more in the last 11 games she's played. Jodi Waddle was another key player, putting up seven points and six boards.
Bell smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 15 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least nine offensive boards in 19 consecutive contests.
Bell moved to 8-12 with that victory, which also ended their three-game losing streak. As for Fort White, their loss dropped their record down to 13-7.
Keep an eye on the arc in Thursday's match: Fort White has been dynamite from deep this season, having made 96% of their three-pointers per game. It's a different story for Bell, though, as they've only made 17.3% of their threes this season. Given Fort White's sizable advantage in that area, Bell will need to find a way to close that gap.
Fort White took their win against Bell in their previous meeting back in December of 2023 by a conclusive 40-19. Will Fort White repeat their success, or does Bell have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
