Basketball Game Preview: The Nueva School Mavericks vs. University Prep Academy Golden Eagles

The Nueva School Mavericks will square off against the University Prep Academy Golden Eagles at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The teams are on pretty different trajectories at the moment (The Nueva School has three straight wins, University Prep Academy has three straight losses), but none of that matters once you're on the court.

Last Friday, The Nueva School had just enough and edged Pacific Bay Christian out 29-27.

The Nueva School's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Willa Beard led the charge by putting up ten points in addition to eight boards and four steals. Beard is on a roll when it comes to steals, as she's now grabbed two or more in the last seven games she's played. Another player making a difference was Julia Randolph, who posted six points in addition to 17 boards and three blocks.

The Nueva School 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 eight offensive rebounds in 22 consecutive contests dating back to last season.

Meanwhile, University Prep Academy played a tough game on Saturday in which they were outscored in every quarter. They came up short against Crystal Springs Uplands, falling 41-15. The match marked the Golden Eagles' lowest-scoring contest so far this season.

The Nueva School's victory bumped their record up to 3-6. As for University Prep Academy, their defeat dropped their record down to 4-3.

The Nueva School lost to University Prep Academy at home by a decisive 44-28 margin in their previous matchup back in February of 2024. Can The Nueva School avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.