After both having extra time off, the Merit Preparatory Academy Knights and the American Prep WV Eagles will shake off the cobwebs and challenge one another at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. One thing working in Merit Preparatory Academy's favor is that they have posted at least 55 points in their last five matchups.
Merit Preparatory Academy is headed in fresh off scoring the most points they have all season. They blew past Dugway, posting a 100-37 victory. The Knights have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won six games by 32 points or more this season.
| 12/21/24 vs Dugway | 21 |
| 12/21/24 vs Pinnacle | 19 |
| 12/20/24 vs Mount Vernon | 19 |
| 12/19/24 @ Green River | 18 |
| 12/13/24 vs Mount Vernon | 25 |
Merit Preparatory Academy got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Cruz Steinman out in front who went 9 for 15 on his way to 21 points in addition to six rebounds and five assists. The contest was Steinman's fifth in a row with at least ten points. The team also got some help courtesy of Miles Petersen, who went 9 of 13 on his way to 20 points and five steals.
Merit Preparatory Academy smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 16 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least nine offensive rebounds in three consecutive matchups.
Meanwhile, American Prep WV played a tough game on December 13th in which they were outscored in every quarter. They came up short against Rowland Hall, falling 55-34. The contest marked the Eagles' lowest-scoring matchup so far this season.
Merit Preparatory Academy will have to keep a close watch on Moses Duon and Chris Monroy, a pair of players who had a big impact on American Prep WV's prior game. Duon posted eight points and 13 rebounds, while Monroy had 13 points and eight rebounds. Duon is on a roll when it comes to boards, as he's now pulled down 13 or more in the last three games he's played.
Merit Preparatory Academy has been performing well recently as they've won four of their last five games, which provided a nice bump to their 6-4 record this season. They've dominated over that stretch too, winning by an average of 61 points. As for American Prep WV, their defeat ended an eight-game streak of away wins dating back to last season and brought them to 4-4.
Keep an eye on the arc in Friday's contest: Merit Preparatory Academy has been dynamite from deep this season, having nailed 37% of their three-pointers per game. It's a different story for American Prep WV, though, as they've only made 20.7% of their three-pointers this season. Given Merit Preparatory Academy's sizable advantage in that area, American Prep WV will need to find a way to close that gap.
Merit Preparatory Academy was taken down by American Prep WV 84-52 when the teams last played back in January. Can Merit Preparatory Academy avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
