The Parkview Christian Patriots will head out on the road to face off against the Elmwood-Murdock Knights on Tuesday. Both teams come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Parkview Christian's four-game losing streak came to an end on Monday. They came out on top against Lewiston by a score of 47-17 (the very same score they lost by the week prior). That 30 points margin sets a new team best for Parkview Christian this season.
It was another big night for Merryl Paul, who scored 18 points along with six rebounds and three steals. She hasn't dropped below two steals for three straight games. The team also got some help courtesy of Maria Pastrelo, who scored six points along with six steals and five assists.
Meanwhile, Elmwood-Murdock had already won three in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 14.7 points), and they went ahead and made it four last Saturday. They simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat Sumner-Eddyville-Miller 62-29 on the road. For those curious, yes, that was the biggest victory Elmwood-Murdock has managed all season.
Elmwood-Murdock's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Tatum Backemeyer, who scored 19 points along with five rebounds and four steals. Delaney "laney" Frahm was another key contributor, almost dropping a triple-double on ten points, ten rebounds, and nine assists.
Parkview Christian's record now sits at 7-5. Elmwood-Murdock's record is now 10-1.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Parkview Christian have been smashing the glass this season, having only averaged 24.2 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Elmwood-Murdock struggles in that department as they've been averaging only 31.1 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Parkview Christian came up short against Elmwood-Murdock in their previous meeting back in January of 2023, falling 32-20. Can Parkview Christian avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
