After two games on the road, Withrow is heading back home. They will take on the Aiken Falcons at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, the two teams will really light up the scoreboard.
Last Tuesday, Withrow was within striking distance but couldn't close the gap as they fell 70-65 to Western Hills. Withrow has not had much luck with Western Hills recently, as the team's come up short the last four times they've met.
Despite their defeat, Withrow saw several players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. Michael Johnson, who scored 25 points, was perhaps the best of all. The team also got some help courtesy of Myles Rochelle, who dropped a double-double on ten points and 12 rebounds.
Even though they lost, Withrow smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 17 offensive rebounds. That's the most offensive rebounds they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, Aiken waltzed into their game on Tuesday with three straight wins but they left with four. They put the hurt on Hughes with a sharp 70-50 win. Given Aiken's advantage in MaxPreps' Ohio basketball rankings (they are ranked 54th, while Hughes is ranked 233rd), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Aiken's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was James Burnett, who scored 15 points along with five steals. Another player making a difference was Jaiden Arnold, who scored 12 points along with three steals and two blocks.
Withrow's defeat dropped their record down to 3-8. As for Aiken, their win was their seventh straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 10-4.
This contest is shaping up to be a blowout: Withrow hasn't had any problem running up the score this season, having only averaged 51.8 points per game. However, it's not like Aiken struggles in that department as they've been averaging only 65.9 points per game. The only thing between Withrow and another offensive beatdown is Aiken. Will they be able to keep them contained?
Everything came up roses for Withrow against Aiken in their previous meeting back in December of 2021 as the squad secured a 64-25 win. Will Withrow repeat their success, or does Aiken have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
