The Monsignor Pace Spartans just played yesterday, but they'll still head out to face the Atlantic Eagles at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
On Thursday, Monsignor Pace ended up a good deal behind Cardinal Newman and lost 67-52. While losing is never fun, the Spartans can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Florida basketball rankings (they are ranked 503rd, while the Crusaders are ranked 221st).
Jamaal Gibson, Jr
| 01/30/25 vs Cardinal Newman | 19 |
| 01/17/24 @ McArthur | 18 |
| 01/29/24 vs Don Soffer Aventura | 17 |
| 12/27/24 vs Coral Springs Charter | 17 |
| 02/02/24 vs Atlantic | 16 |
Despite their defeat, Monsignor Pace saw several players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. Jamaal Gibson, Jr, who went 7 of 15 en route to 19 points and three steals, was perhaps the best of all. The dominant performance gave Gibson, Jr a new career-high in points. Another player making a difference was Teagan Jordan, who posted eight points.
Meanwhile, Atlantic posted their biggest victory since January 3rd on Tuesday. They simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat Boca Raton 76-37. The Eagles have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won seven matchups by 21 points or more this season.
Atlantic's win came from a few key players Monsignor Pace will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Jonathan Richard, who earned 13 points. Ty Watson was another key player, putting up seven points and three steals.
This is the second loss in a row for Monsignor Pace and nudges their season record down to 4-19. As for Atlantic, their win bumped their record up to 12-9.
Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Monsignor Pace has been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 27.6 boards per game. However, it's not like Atlantic struggles in that department as they've been averaging 23 rebounds. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.
Monsignor Pace came up short against Atlantic in their previous matchup back in February of 2024, falling 63-58. Can Monsignor Pace avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
