Independence is 10-0 against the Wildcats since January of 2019, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Friday. The Independence Patriots will be playing in front of their home fans against the Garinger Wildcats at 6:00 p.m. Hopefully Independence is not getting complacent, as they presents a significant challenge as they come into the match much higher ranked than the Wildcats in North Carolina (the Patriots are ranked 16th, while the Wildcats are ranked 209th).
After a string of four wins, Independence's good fortune finally ran out on Tuesday. They took a 49-43 hit to the loss column at the hands of Charlotte Catholic. The loss unfortunately continues a disappointing trend for Independence in their matchups with the Cougars: they've now lost three in a row.
Even though the team lost, they still had their share of impressive performances. One of the best came from Kamryn Kitchen, who scored 12 points along with two steals. She has been hot recently, having posted two or more steals the last nine times she's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Jessica Worthey, who scored eight points.
Independence struggled to get the ball back on offense and finished the game with only four offensive rebounds. They were crushed by their opponents in that department as Charlotte Catholic pulled down 15 offensive rebounds.
Meanwhile, Garinger had to endure a three-game losing streak, but that streak is no more. They strolled past East Mecklenburg with points to spare on Tuesday, taking the game 51-36.
Garinger's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Raziah Mitchell led the charge by dropping a double-double on 12 points and 18 rebounds. Another player making a difference was Kim'mya Kelly, who scored 16 points along with four steals.
Independence's defeat ended a seven-game streak of away wins and brought them to 14-5. As for Garinger, they pushed their record up to 12-8 with that win, which was their third straight at home.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Independence have been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 33.1 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Garinger struggles in that department as they've been averaging 33.1 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Everything came up roses for Independence against the Wildcats when the teams last played back in December of 2023 as the squad secured a 73-25 win. With Independence ahead 45-19 at the half, the contest was all but over already.
