Basketball Game Preview: Nardin Academy Gators vs. West Seneca West Warhawks

The Nardin Academy Gators will venture away from home to challenge the West Seneca West Warhawks at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Nardin Academy is headed into the contest out to prove that what happened against St. Mary's on Thursday (when they were outscored in every quarter) was just a minor bump in the road. Nardin Academy had to suffer through a 67-28 loss at the hands of St. Mary's. The Gators were in a tough position after the first half, with the score already sitting at 42-13.

Nardin Academy's loss shouldn't obscure the performances of Olivia Braun, who posted six points and seven boards, and Fiona Cusack, who put up seven points. Braun has been hot recently, having also posted two or more steals the last three times she's played.

Even though they lost, Nardin Academy smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 13 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least nine offensive rebounds in eight consecutive games.

Meanwhile, West Seneca West waltzed into their match on Friday with four straight wins... but they left with five. They enjoyed a cozy 51-36 win over the Bulldogs.

West Seneca West found their leader in sophomore Kate Cooley, who scored three points and eight rebounds.

Nardin Academy has traveled a rocky road recently having lost five of their last six contests, which put a noticeable dent in their 6-8 record this season. As for West Seneca West, their victory bumped their record up to 11-1.

Nardin Academy skirted past West Seneca West 43-41 when the teams last played back in December of 2023. The rematch might be a little tougher for Nardin Academy since the squad won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.