L.E.A.D. Academy has enjoyed a two-game homestand but will soon have to dust off their road jerseys. They will square off against the Pensacola Catholic Crusaders at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. L.E.A.D. Academy knows how to get points on the board -- the squad has finished with flashy point totals in its past four games -- so hopefully the Crusaders likes a good challenge.
Last Tuesday, L.E.A.D. Academy blew past the Knights, posting a 64-17 win at home. That looming 64-17 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for L.E.A.D. Academy yet this season.
L.E.A.D. Academy's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Donovan Dean, who scored 15 points along with six rebounds and two steals. Noah Hinshaw was another key contributor, scoring seven points along with nine rebounds and three steals.
Meanwhile, Pensacola Catholic fought the good fight in their overtime matchup against the Jaguars on Tuesday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell 71-64 to the Jaguars. The defeat unfortunately continues a disappointing trend for Pensacola Catholic in their matchups with the Jaguars: they've now lost seven in a row.
Despite their defeat, Pensacola Catholic saw several players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. Derion Gould, who almost dropped a double-double on 22 points and nine rebounds, was perhaps the best of all. As a matter of fact, that's the most points Gould has scored all season. Another player making a difference was Jackson Pearson, who scored 12 points along with seven rebounds and three steals.
L.E.A.D. Academy's win bumped their record up to 5-16. As for Pensacola Catholic, they have been struggling recently as they've lost five of their last six contests, which put a noticeable dent in their 5-19 record this season.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: L.E.A.D. Academy have been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 25.7 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Pensacola Catholic struggles in that department as they've been averaging 28 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
L.E.A.D. Academy was taken down by the Crusaders 77-34 when the teams last played back in November of 2023. Can L.E.A.D. Academy avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
