The Huntington North Vikings will be defending their home court for the first time this season when they go up against the Bluffton Tigers at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Huntington North is coming into the matchup on a four-game losing streak dating back to last season.
On Tuesday, Huntington North ended up a good deal behind Carroll and lost 55-36. The Vikings were up 17-0 in the first quarter but couldn't hold on to the lead.
Huntington North's loss shouldn't obscure the performances of Claire Shafer, who posted five points and five boards, and Luci Reich, who scored 11 points and three steals.
Meanwhile, you can't lose the game if you win every quarter, and that was precisely Bluffton's strategy against Mississinewa on Tuesday. Given that consistent dominance, it should come as no surprise that the Tigers blew the Indians out of the water with a 78-25 final score. The Tigers have beaten the Indians the last four times they've met, but they better watch out: this was the closest the Indians has come to flipping the script.
Huntington North better focus on containing Konley Ault and Khloe Dick as the pair were huge in Bluffton's win. Ault shot 82% from the field to rack up 33 points and six steals, while Dick went 9-for-15 on her way to 22 points in addition to six rebounds and six steals. Thanks to that strong game, Ault now owns an excellent 46.2% field goal percentage. Another player making a difference was Carlee Strunk, who put up eight points along with five assists and five steals.
Huntington North's defeat dropped their record down to 0-3. As for Bluffton, they now have a winning record of 3-2.
Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Huntington North has been crashing the boards this season, having averaged 22.3 boards per game. However, it's not like Bluffton struggles in that department as they've been averaging 33.4 rebounds. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.
Huntington North suffered a grim 66-45 defeat to Bluffton in their previous matchup back in November of 2024. Will the Vikings 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
