Houlka is 8-2 against Bruce since January of 2018, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Tuesday. The Houlka Wildcats will be playing in front of their home fans against the Bruce Trojans at 7:00 p.m. Houlka has been dominant on offense recently, as they've racked up an incredible 199 points over their last three matches.
Last Tuesday, Houlka earned a 65-52 victory over Vardaman.
Houlka got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Neal Moore out in front who scored 16 points along with eight rebounds. That's the first time this season that Moore scored 15 or more points. Another player making a difference was Elijah Kilpatrick, who scored 17 points along with six rebounds and two steals.
Meanwhile, Bruce's recent rough patch got a bit rougher on Friday after their third straight loss. They were outmatched by Calhoun City at home and fell 60-29. The loss unfortunately continues a disappointing trend for Bruce in their matchups with Calhoun City: they've now lost five in a row.
Despite the defeat, Bruce saw an underclassman step up: Sutton Gore scored six points along with five steals.
Houlka's win ended a four-game drought at home and bumped them up to 9-11. As for Bruce, they have not been sharp recently, as they've lost four of their last five matches, which put a noticeable dent in their 5-11 record this season.
Tuesday's contest is shaping up to be a scrappy match: Houlka have been smashing the glass this season, having only averaged 38.6 rebounds per game. It's a different story for Bruce, though, as they've been averaging only 26.6 rebounds per game. Given Houlka's sizeable advantage in that area, Bruce will need to find a way to close that gap.
Everything came up roses for Houlka against Bruce in their previous matchup back in November of 2023 as the squad secured a 60-33 win. Does Houlka have another victory up their sleeve, or will Bruce turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.