The Lake Wales Highlanders just played last yesterday, but they'll still welcome the Santa Fe Catholic Hawks at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: both posted some lofty point totals in their previous games.
On Monday, Lake Wales didn't have too much breathing room in their contest against Ocoee, but they still walked away with a 62-56 win. The victory was all the more spectacular given the Highlanders' disadvantage in MaxPreps' Florida basketball rankings (they are ranked 383rd, while the Knights are ranked 185th).
Lake Wales' win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Siled Morris, who posted 20 points. Bradley Auguste was another key player, dropping a double-double on ten points and 13 rebounds.
Lake Wales smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 16 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least 11 offensive rebounds in nine consecutive matches.
Meanwhile, Santa Fe Catholic waltzed into their game on Saturday with four straight wins... but they left with five. They breezed by the Marauders to the tune of 59-31. The Hawks have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won eight contests by 22 points or more this season.
Lake Wales better keep an eye on Tate Darner. He was instrumental in Santa Fe Catholic's win, dropping a double-double on 24 points and 14 boards. Darner's afternoon made it six games in a row in which he has scored at least ten points. Another player making a difference was Toby Lane, who put up eight points in addition to five assists and three steals.
Santa Fe Catholic has been performing incredibly well recently as they've won eight of their last nine matchups, which provided a nice bump to their 14-8 record this season. The wins came thanks to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 68.4 points per game. As for Lake Wales, their victory ended a four-game drought on the road and puts them at 10-11.
Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Lake Wales has been crashing the rebounds this season, having averaged 39.6 boards per game. However, it's not like Santa Fe Catholic struggles in that department as they've been averaging 24.5 rebounds. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.
Lake Wales was taken down by Santa Fe Catholic 76-42 when the teams last played back in January of 2024. Will Lake Wales have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other basketball content.
