The Heartland Mustangs were the 76-53 winner over the Blue Ridge Christian Warriors when they last played one another back in November of 2023, but their luck changed this time around. Heartland fell 48-38 to Blue Ridge Christian on Saturday. While losing is never fun, Heartland can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Missouri basketball rankings (they are ranked 304th, while Blue Ridge Christian is ranked 149th).
Despite the loss, Heartland saw an underclassman step up: Jayce Maiden dropped a double-double on 16 points and 11 rebounds. Maiden hasn't dropped below two steals for three straight games. The team also got some help courtesy of Jackson Odom, who scored five points along with two steals.
Blue Ridge Christian's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Mekhi Jones, who dropped a double-double on 20 points and 11 rebounds. That makes it three consecutive games in which Jones has scored at least a third of Blue Ridge Christian's points. Pennbrook Shaver was another key contributor, dropping a double-double on 14 points and ten rebounds.
Heartland's defeat dropped their record down to 11-5. As for Blue Ridge Christian, their win was their fourth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 5-2.
Both teams are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Heartland will take on Plaza Heights Christian Academy at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Plaza Heights Christian Academy has been dominant on offense recently, as they've racked up an incredible 385 points over their last six games. As for Blue Ridge Christian, they will look to defend their home court on Friday against Cornerstone Family at 8:30 p.m.
