Basketball Game Preview: Ocoee Knights vs. Central Florida Christian Academy Eagles

Ocoee is 0-3 against Central Florida Christian Academy since January of 2021 but things could change on Tuesday. The Ocoee Knights will head out on the road to challenge the Central Florida Christian Academy Eagles at 7:00 p.m. Ocoee is coming into the match hot, having won their last five games.

Last Thursday, Ocoee earned a 54-47 win over Horizon. Given the Knights' advantage in MaxPreps' Florida basketball rankings (they are ranked 31st, while the Hawks are ranked 119th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.

Dakara Merthie and Kylie Holden were among the main playmakers for Ocoee as the former went 8 of 17 en route to 23 points and five steals and the latter dropped a double-double on 20 points and 11 boards. Those 20 points gave Holden a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Jayla Weiser, who posted seven points and six assists.

Ocoee smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 15 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least nine offensive rebounds in five consecutive contests.

Central Florida Christian Academy has been a dominant force so far, but they're in the middle of a mini-slump at the moment. They were six points away from ending the streak, but they lost a 49-43 heartbreaker at the hands of Colonial. That's two games in a row now that the Eagles have lost by exactly six points.

Ocoee pushed their record up to 18-3 with the victory, which was their fourth straight on the road. As for Central Florida Christian Academy, their defeat dropped their record down to 15-7.

Ocoee was taken down by Central Florida Christian Academy 47-18 when the teams last played back in December of 2022. Can Ocoee avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.