The Nardin Academy Gators will face off against the Nichols Vikings at 6:00 p.m. on Monday. Given that both suffered a loss in their last games, they both have a little extra motivation heading into this matchup.
Nardin Academy is headed into the game out to prove that what happened against Iroquois on Friday (when they were outscored in every quarter) was just a minor bump in the road. Nardin Academy lost 68-45 to Iroquois. The Gators were in a tough position after the first half, with the score already sitting at 38-16.
The loss doesn't tell the whole story though, as several players had good games. One of the most active was Kara Krupski, who posted 16 points. Olivia Braun was another key player, putting up six points and 12 rebounds.
Even though they lost, Nardin Academy smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 23 offensive rebounds. That's the most offensive boards they've posted since back in February of 2024.
Meanwhile, Nichols ended up a good deal behind Cardinal O'Hara on Tuesday and lost 64-45. The Vikings have struggled against the Hawks recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive lost matchup.
Nardin Academy will have to contain Evelyn Walcott as she made an impact in Nichols' last game. She dropped a double-double on 19 points and 15 boards. Nichols is 2-1 when Walcott posts eight or more rebounds, but 2-5 otherwise. The team also got some help courtesy of Julieta Cruz, who put up ten points in addition to seven rebounds and five assists.
Nardin Academy has been struggling recently as they've lost four of their last five contests, which put a noticeable dent in their 5-5 record this season. As for Nichols, their defeat dropped their record down to 4-6.
Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Nardin Academy has crashing the boards this season, having averaged 32 boards per game. However, it's not like Nichols struggles in that department as they've been averaging 35 boards. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.
Nardin Academy ended up a good deal behind Nichols in their previous meeting back in February of 2024, losing 41-26. Can Nardin Academy avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
