The Monessen Greyhounds will be playing in front of their home fans against the Avella Eagles at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Given that the pair suffered a loss in their last game, they both have a little extra motivation heading into this game.
Last Friday, Monessen came up short against Chartiers-Houston and fell 47-35.
Even though the team lost, they still had their share of impressive performances. One of the most dominant came from MyAsia Majors, who scored eight points along with nine rebounds and two steals. Avanti Stitch was another key contributor, scoring five points along with seven rebounds.
Meanwhile, Avella's recent rough patch got a bit rougher on Thursday after their fourth straight loss. They were dealt a 77-43 defeat at the hands of Geibel Catholic. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest defeat Avella has suffered since December 12, 2023.
Like Avella, they lost despite seeing results from several players. Sydney Strope led the charge by scoring 19 points along with six rebounds. That's the first time this season that Strope scored 15 or more points. Another player making a difference was Ava Frank, who scored ten points along with nine rebounds and six assists.
Monessen's defeat dropped their record down to 6-3. As for Avella, they have been struggling recently, as they've lost six of their last seven matchups, which put a noticeable dent in their 2-11 record this season.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Monessen have been smashing the glass this season, having only averaged 40.7 rebounds per game. It's a different story for Avella, though, as they've been averaging only 29 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Monessen was able to grind out a solid win over Avella in their previous meeting back in March of 2023, winning 48-37. One of the biggest obstacles trying to stand in the way of that victory was Avella's Katie Dryer, who dropped a triple-double on 11 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 steals. Now that she won't be playing on Wednesday, will it be that much easier for Monessen to walk away with another win? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.
