Basketball Game Preview: Monarch Coyotes vs. Horizon Hawks

Monarch and Horizon are an even 5-5 against one another since February of 2015, but not for long. The Monarch Coyotes will host the Horizon Hawks at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, both will really light up the scoreboard.

If Monarch beats Horizon with 68 points on Friday, it's going to be the team's new lucky number: they've won their past two contests with that exact score. Monarch walked away with a 68-58 victory over Holy Family on Tuesday. The win was familiar territory for the Coyotes who have now won three matches in a row.

Logan Laverty was his usual excellent self, going 9 of 18 on his way to 25 points along with five assists and three steals. The game was his third in a row with at least ten points. The team also got some help courtesy of Dylan Ehrnstrom, who went 6 for 14 en route to 13 points and five rebounds.

Meanwhile, a well-balanced attack led Horizon over Niwot in every quarter on their way to victory on Tuesday. Given that consistent dominance, it should come as no surprise that Horizon blew Niwot out of the water with a 74-37 final score. That 37 point margin sets a new team best for the Hawks this season.

Horizon found their leader in sophomore Noah Sokolowski, who went 12 of 15 on his way to 29 points in addition to eight rebounds and three blocks. Sokolowski is crushing it when it comes to blocks: he's posted at least three every time he's taken the court this season. The team also got some help courtesy of Boaz Wisne, who posted nine points.

Horizon smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 16 offensive boards. That's the most offensive boards they've managed all season.

Horizon's victory bumped their record up to 7-2. As for Monarch, their win bumped their record up to 6-4.

Monarch came out on top in a nail-biter against Horizon in their previous matchup back in January of 2024, sneaking past 66-64. One of the biggest obstacles trying to stand in the way of that victory was Horizon's Brady Greene, who dropped a double-double on 22 points and ten boards. Now that he won't be playing on Friday, will it be easier for Monarch to walk away with another win? There's only one way to find out.