Claude is 7-2 against the Patriots since December of 2019, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Friday. The Claude Mustangs will be playing in front of their home fans against the Valley Patriots at 6:30 p.m. Both teams come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Claude put the finishing touches on their fifth blowout victory of the season on Tuesday. They blew past Hedley, posting a 62-9 win at home. The victory was some much needed relief for Claude as it spelled an end to their three-game losing streak.
Meanwhile, Valley entered their tilt with the Owls with 27 consecutive wins but they'll enter their next game with 28. Valley strolled past the Owls with points to spare on Tuesday, taking the game 48-29. Given Valley's advantage in MaxPreps' Texas basketball rankings (they are ranked 88th, while the Owls are ranked 501st), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
It was another big night for Trinity Schlueter, who scored 24 points along with seven steals and five rebounds. That makes it three consecutive games in which she has scored at least a third of Valley's points. The team also got some help courtesy of Laney Edwards, who scored ten points along with four steals.
Claude's victory bumped their record up to 7-9. As for Valley, their win was their sixth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 28-2.
Claude came up short against the Patriots in their previous meeting back in January, falling 55-46. Can Claude avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
