Bertrand is 0-8 against Elm Creek since December of 2017 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Bertrand Vikings will be home for the holidays to greet the Elm Creek Buffaloes at 6:00 p.m. Both teams come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Bertrand scored the most points they've had all season to find success on Tuesday. They claimed a resounding 51-20 victory over Hi-Line [Eustis-Farnam/Elwood] at home. That looming 51-20 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for Bertrand yet this season.
Bertrand's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Katelyn Evans, who scored 18 points along with four steals. That's the first time this season that Evans scored 15 or more points. Addison Andersen was another key contributor, scoring 16 points along with seven rebounds and five steals.
Meanwhile, Elm Creek was fully in charge on Saturday, breezing past Ansley/Litchfield 53-20 on the road. That 53-20 margin sets a new team best for Elm Creek this season.
Elm Creek's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Kendal Cavenee led the charge by scoring 15 points along with seven steals and five assists. The match was Cavenee's third in a row with at least ten points. The team also got some help courtesy of Ashley Bauer, who scored 11 points.
The victory got Bertrand back to even at 2-2. As for Elm Creek, they now have a winning record of 3-2.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Bertrand have been smashing the glass this season, having only averaged 27.5 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Elm Creek struggles in that department as they've been averaging only 25.6 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Bertrand came up short against Elm Creek in their previous meeting back in December of 2022, falling 51-39. Will Bertrand have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more basketball content.
