Basketball Game Preview: Portage Indians vs. Valparaiso Vikings

The Portage Indians will square off against the Valparaiso Vikings at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. Portage will be strutting in after a victory while Valparaiso will be coming in after a defeat.

Valparaiso is hoping to do what Plymouth couldn't last Saturday: put an end to Portage's winning streak, which now stands at three games. Portage had just enough and edged Plymouth out 42-39.

Portage got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Kylie Byrd out in front who posted seven points. Byrd is also on a roll when it comes to steals, as she's now grabbed two or more in the last four games she's played. Another player making a difference was Courtney Clark, who earned 11 points and seven rebounds.

Meanwhile, Valparaiso played a tough contest on Saturday in which they were outscored in every quarter. They were dealt a 71-40 loss at the hands of Lawrence North. The Vikings have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.

Portage will have to contain Lillian Barnes as she made an impact in Valparaiso's last game. She went 7 of 15 on her way to 16 points and five rebounds. That was a full 40% of Valparaiso's points, marking the fifth time in a row she's had more than a third of the team's points. The team also got some help courtesy of Cadynce Clark, who put up eight points and eight rebounds.

Even though they lost, Valparaiso smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with ten 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.

Valparaiso's defeat dropped their record down to 9-7. As for Portage, they now have a winning record of 8-7.

Portage was taken down by Valparaiso 48-20 in their previous meeting back in February of 2024. Will Portage have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other basketball content.