Basketball Recap: Merit Preparatory Academy Piles Up the Points Against Freedom Prep Academy

Knights

Margin (Wins)

01/10/25 vs Telos	74
12/20/24 vs Mount Vernon	71
12/13/24 vs Mount Vernon	68
12/21/24 vs Dugway	63
11/19/24 @ Telos	62

You can't lose the game if you win every quarter, and that was precisely Merit Preparatory Academy's strategy against Freedom Prep Academy on Friday. Given that consistent dominance, it should come as no surprise that the Merit Preparatory Academy Knights blew the Freedom Prep Academy Eagles out of the water with a 74-29 final score. The Knights have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won nine matches by 27 points or more this season.

Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Merit Preparatory Academy to victory, but perhaps none more so than Michigan Draper, who went 7 of 12 en route to 15 points in addition to eight steals and seven assists. Draper has been hot for a while, having posted two or more steals the last 15 times he's played. Miles Petersen was another key player, going 6 for 11 on his way to 14 points along with eight assists and eight rebounds.

Despite the loss, Freedom Prep Academy had strong showings from Jonas Sosa, who posted 13 points and five boards, and Wyatt Leigh, who scored eight points in addition to ten rebounds and three steals. The team also got some help courtesy of Joseph Black, who put up two points and three steals.

Merit Preparatory Academy has been performing incredibly well recently as they've won nine of their last ten contests, which provided a nice bump to their 11-4 record this season. They've dominated over that stretch too, winning by an average of 44 points. As for Freedom Prep Academy, they are on a six-game losing streak that has dropped them down to 5-11.

Both squads are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Merit Preparatory Academy will host Vanguard Academy at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Merit Preparatory Academy will be looking to extend their current eight-game winning streak. As for Freedom Prep Academy, it'll be a Battle of the Birds when the Freedom Prep Academy Eagles take on the Utah Military Academy - Hill Field Thunderbirds at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.