The Neuse Charter Cougars will head out on the road to square off against the Lakewood Leopards at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Neuse Charter is hoping to put an end to a six-game streak of away losses.
You can't lose the match if you win every quarter, and that was precisely Neuse Charter's strategy against Rosewood on Tuesday. Everything went Neuse Charter's way against Rosewood as Neuse Charter made off with a 69-47 win. For those curious, yes, that was the biggest win Neuse Charter has managed all season.
Neuse Charter's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Jayvin Bradley led the charge by scoring 33 points along with eight rebounds and three steals. That makes it eight consecutive games in which Bradley has scored at least a third of Neuse Charter's points. Another player making a difference was Jayden Atkinson, who dropped a double-double on 15 points and ten rebounds.
Meanwhile, Lakewood's recent rough patch got a bit rougher on Wednesday after their third straight loss. They fell just short of Clinton by a score of 50-47. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest loss Lakewood has suffered yet this season.
The losing side was boosted by Cameron Williams, who dropped a double-double on 16 points and 12 rebounds. Juan Parker Jr. was another key contributor, scoring six points.
Neuse Charter has been performing well recently as they've won three of their last four games, which provided a massive bump to their 6-15 record this season. As for Lakewood, they have not been sharp recently, as they've lost six of their last seven contests, which put a noticeable dent in their 4-8 record this season.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Neuse Charter have been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 29.3 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Lakewood struggles in that department as they've been averaging 28.7 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Neuse Charter beat Lakewood 56-48 in their previous matchup back in February of 2023. Does Neuse Charter have another victory up their sleeve, or will Lakewood turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
