Mishawaka Marian is 9-0 against the Cougars since December of 2015, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Tuesday. The Mishawaka Marian Knights will head out on the road to square off against the New Prairie Cougars at 6:30 p.m. Mishawaka Marian will be looking to extend their current five-game winning streak.
Last Thursday, Mishawaka Marian was fully in charge, breezing past the Lions 61-24 at home. Given Mishawaka Marian's advantage in MaxPreps' Indiana basketball rankings (they are ranked 90th, while the Lions are ranked 282nd), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Mishawaka Marian's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Jordan Maust, who scored 16 points along with five assists and three steals. It was the first time this season that Maust scored 15 or more points. Another player making a difference was Zion Rhoades, who scored ten points along with six rebounds and three steals.
Meanwhile, New Prairie scored the most points they've had all season to find success on Saturday. They blew past Wheeler, posting a 71-26 victory at home. That looming 71-26 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for New Prairie yet this season.
New Prairie's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Brody Wiginton, who scored 12 points along with six rebounds and five assists. Reece Lapczynski was another key contributor, scoring nine points along with six steals.
Mishawaka Marian's win was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 9-8. Those good results were due in large part to their offensive dominance across that stretch, as they averaged 56.0 points per game. As for New Prairie, their win bumped their record up to 4-15.
Tuesday's matchup is shaping up to be a masterclass in shooting: Mishawaka Marian have been dynamite from deep this season, having made 44.4% of their threes per game. However, it's not like New Prairie struggles in that department as they've made 37.1% of their threes this season. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Everything came up roses for Mishawaka Marian against the Cougars when the teams last played back in February of 2023 as the team secured a 61-23 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for Mishawaka Marian since the team won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
