The Statesboro Blue Devils will finish 2023 at home by hosting the Bryan County Redskins at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday. One thing working in Statesboro's favor is that they have posted big point totals in their last seven contests.
Winning is just a little bit easier when you outrebound your opponent 14 to 7 on the offensive boards, a fact Statesboro proved two weeks ago. They enjoyed a cozy 60-44 win over East Laurens.
Statesboro's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Raylin Grant, who dropped a double-double on 17 points and ten rebounds. That's the first time this season that Grant pulled down eight or more rebounds. Another player making a difference was Mike Goodman, who scored ten points along with six rebounds and three steals.
Meanwhile, Bryan County waltzed into their contest Tuesday with two straight wins but they left with three. They strolled past Emanuel County Institute with points to spare, taking the game 71-52. Given Bryan County's advantage in MaxPreps' Georgia basketball rankings (they are ranked 165th, while Emanuel County Institute is ranked 551st), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Statesboro's victory bumped their record up to 7-1. As for Bryan County, they pushed their record up to 6-2 with that win, which was their third straight at home.
Statesboro strolled past Bryan County when the teams last played back in February by a score of 60-43. Does Statesboro have another victory up their sleeve, or will Bryan County turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
