The Shields Panthers will square off against the Brantley Bulldogs at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. Shields is coming into the match hot, having won their last three games.
Even though Shields has not done well against Clarke County recently (they were 1-6 in their previous seven matchups), they didn't let the past get in their way on Friday. Shields snuck past Clarke County with a 47-42 victory.
Shields' victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Adrian Watts, who dropped a double-double on 12 points and 12 rebounds. Watts is on a roll when it comes to steals, as he's now grabbed two or more in the last six games he's played. Another player making a difference was Dante Leffall, who scored 13 points.
Meanwhile, Brantley was within striking distance but couldn't close the gap on Tuesday as they fell 59-54 to Highland Home. Brantley has now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Jayden Parks put forth a good effort for the losing side as he scored 20 points along with seven rebounds and five assists. The match was his fourth in a row with at least ten points. Daylan Davis was another key contributor, dropping a double-double on 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Shields now has a winning record of 5-4. As for Brantley, they now have a losing record at 2-3.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Shields have been smashing the glass this season, having only averaged 27.9 rebounds per game. It's a different story for Brantley, though, as they've been averaging only 14.8 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Shields lost to Brantley on the road by a decisive 75-58 margin in their previous meeting back in December of 2022. Can Shields avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
