Hernando is 2-8 against Central since January of 2022 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Leopards will look to defend their home court against the Bears at 7:00 p.m. One thing working in Hernando's favor is that they have posted at least 55 points in their last six matchups.
On Wednesday, Hernando took a blow against Hudson, falling 85-57.

Michael Brown
| 01/14/26 @ Hudson | 24 |
| 01/06/26 @ Weeki Wachee | 24 |
| 01/12/26 vs Citrus | 21 |
| 12/12/25 vs River Ridge | 18 |
| 01/09/26 @ Springstead | 14 |
| + 12 more games |
Despite the loss, Hernando got top-tier performance from Michael Brown, who went 10-for-17 on his way to 24 points. Brown is becoming a predictor of the Leopards' success: when he posts at least 20 points the team is 2-1 (and 4-11 when he doesn't). Blake Williams was another key player, dropping a double-double with 11 points and ten rebounds.
Meanwhile, Central made easy work of Mount Dora on Wednesday and carried off a 57-33 win. The Bears have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won eight contests by 23 points or more this season.
Hernando better keep an eye on Braydon Prospero. He was instrumental in Central's win, shooting 60% from the field to rack up 19 points in addition to six boards and three steals. Another player making a difference was Joseph Greene, who dropped a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
The victory made it two in a row for Central and bumps their season record up to 13-2. Those wins came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 70.0 points over those games. As for Hernando, their defeat dropped their record down to 6-12.
Things could have been worse for Hernando, but things could have been a whole lot better as they took a 54-39 loss to Central in their previous matchup back in December of 2025. Will the Leopards 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.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps