Meridian has been on the road for seven straight, but on Friday they'll finally head home. They will take on the Osceola Bulldogs at 5:55 p.m. on Friday. The matchup should be an exciting one, as these teams are closely ranked in Nebraska (Meridian is ranked 148th, while the Bulldogs are ranked 158th).
Meridian scored the most points they've had all season to find success on Tuesday. They blew past High Plains 64-44.
Meridian's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Ana Dimas led the charge by scoring 16 points along with eight assists and four steals. As a matter of fact, that's the most points Dimas has scored all season. Another player making a difference was Jaylee Sobotka, who scored 15 points along with seven rebounds and two steals.
Meanwhile, Osceola's recent rough patch got a bit rougher on Tuesday after their third straight loss. They took a 40-34 hit to the loss column at the hands of Bruning-Davenport/Shickley.
Despite their defeat, Osceola saw several players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. Emma Recker, who scored 13 points along with four steals, was perhaps the best of all. Courtney Sunday was another key contributor, scoring 13 points along with seven rebounds.
Meridian now has a winning record of 9-8. As for Osceola, they have traveled a rocky road recently having lost five of their last six matchups, which put a noticeable dent in their 8-6 record this season.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Meridian have been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 28.9 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Osceola struggles in that department as they've been averaging 26.6 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Meridian was able to grind out a solid win over the Bulldogs when the teams last played back in February of 2023, winning 33-21. Will Meridian repeat their success, or do the Bulldogs have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
