Basketball Game Preview: Hill City Ringnecks vs. Northern Valley Huskies

The Hill City Ringnecks will square off against the Northern Valley Huskies at 7:30 p.m. on Monday. Both have had a bumpy ride up to this point with three consecutive losses for Hill City and four for Northern Valley.

Last Friday, Hill City ended up a good deal behind Trego and lost 51-33. The game marked the Ringnecks' lowest-scoring matchup so far this season.

Despite their defeat, Hill City saw several players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. Vincent Zohner, who posted eight points and seven rebounds, was perhaps the best of all. Zohner is also on a roll when it comes to blocks, as he's now posted two or more in the last three games he's played. Carson Keith was another key player, almost dropping a double-double on nine points and nine boards.

Meanwhile, Northern Valley came up short against Cheylin on Friday, falling 65-40.

Hill City will have to contain Owen Hammond as he made an impact in Northern Valley's last game. He went 8 of 20 on his way to 25 points along with seven boards and five steals. Those 25 points gave Hammond a new career-high.

Northern Valley's loss dropped their record down to 3-6. As for Hill City, their defeat dropped their record down to 1-4.

Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Hill City has been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 27.8 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Northern Valley struggles in that department as they've been averaging 31.3 boards. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.

Hill City beat Northern Valley 73-60 in their previous meeting back in February of 2024. One of the biggest obstacles trying to stand in the way of that victory was Northern Valley's Kenton Thalheim, who went 8 of 20 on his way to 24 points and three steals. Now that he won't be playing on Monday, will it be easier for Hill City to walk away with another win? There's only one way to find out.