Two dominant players in Lucy Morey and JoLesa Birkhead are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Academy of the Holy Names Jaguars will be playing at home against the Winthrop College Prep Academy Spartans at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. Academy of the Holy Names has been getting the ball to fall more lately as they've increased their point totals each of their last three games.
Academy of the Holy Names put the finishing touches on their eighth blowout victory of the season on Tuesday. They took their game at home with ease, bagging a 63-25 win over Carrollwood Day. Given Academy of the Holy Names' advantage in MaxPreps' Florida basketball rankings (they are ranked 76th, while Carrollwood Day is ranked 329th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
It was another big night for Morey, who scored 31 points along with nine steals and six assists. As a matter of fact, that's the most points she has scored all season. Grace Gavin was another key contributor, scoring 14 points along with two steals.
Meanwhile, Winthrop College Prep Academy unfortunately witnessed the end of their three-game winning streak on Monday. They took a serious blow against Tampa Prep, falling 82-46. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest defeat Winthrop College Prep Academy has suffered since December 29, 2023.
Despite the defeat, Winthrop College Prep Academy saw an underclassman step up: Zamyria King scored 17 points along with nine rebounds and six steals. King has been hot recently, having posted 15 or more points the last three times she's played. Another player making a difference was Birkhead, who scored 21 points.
Academy of the Holy Names pushed their record up to 14-7 with that win, which was their fourth straight at home. Those good results were due in large part to their offensive dominance across that stretch, as they averaged 60.3 points per game. As for Winthrop College Prep Academy, they now have a losing record at 10-11.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Academy of the Holy Names have been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 29.5 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Winthrop College Prep Academy struggles in that department as they've been averaging 21.6 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
