Basketball Game Preview: Matanzas Pirates vs. Menendez Falcons

Matanzas and Menendez are an even 5-5 against one another since December of 2019, but not for long. The Matanzas Pirates will take on the Menendez Falcons at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Matanzas is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 58.6 points per game this season.

Last Thursday, Matanzas didn't have too much trouble with Flagler Palm Coast as they won 53-36. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Pirates.

Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Matanzas to victory, but perhaps none more so than Nathaniel Perry, who went 7 of 10 en route to 20 points and five rebounds. That's the most points Perry has posted since back in November of 2024. The team also got some help courtesy of Alexander Davis, who dropped a double-double on 12 points and 20 boards.

Meanwhile, Menendez had to endure a five-game losing streak, but that streak is no more. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past Crescent City 53-51. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Falcons have posted since January 26, 2024.

Matanzas has been performing incredibly well recently as they've won six of their last seven matchups, which provided a massive bump to their 11-8 record this season. Those victories came thanks to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 60.4 points per game. As for Menendez, their victory ended an eight-game drought on the road and puts them at 5-15.

Matanzas was able to grind out a solid win over Menendez when the teams last played on January 4th, winning 64-51. The rematch might be a little tougher for Matanzas since the team won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.