Basketball Game Preview: Elite Scholars Academy Royal Knights vs. Northwest Classical Academy Spartans

Royal Knights

Points

11/25/25 vs Stephens County	56
11/24/25 vs Lakeview Academy	60
11/22/25 @ Lake Oconee Academy	50
11/18/25 @ Johnson	58
11/14/25 @ Utopian Academy for the Arts	72

For the first time this season, Elite Scholars Academy will have a chance to prove themselves in a conference matchup. They will look to defend their home court on Monday against the Northwest Classical Academy Spartans at 7:30 p.m. Elite Scholars Academy is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 59.2 points per game this season.

While Elite Scholars Academy didn't have the best season last year (they finished 6-21), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They walked away with a 56-44 win over Stephens County on Tuesday.

Elite Scholars Academy's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Jerel Clark, who went 6-for-10 to rack up 14 points and five rebounds. That's the most points Clark has posted since back in December of 2024. Another player making a difference was Desmond Rose, who shot 75% from the field on his way to 14 points in addition to six boards and three blocks.

Meanwhile, after a string of three wins, Northwest Classical Academy's good fortune finally ran out last Wednesday. They took a 59-53 hit to the loss column at the hands of Mill Springs Academy.

Elite Scholars Academy will need to focus on slowing down Luke Sabbarese, one of several Northwest Classical Academy players who made an impact when they last played. He dropped a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Sabbarese is crushing it when it comes to boards: he's pulled down at least eight every time he's taken the court this season. The team also got some help courtesy of Benjamin Battista, who dropped a double-double with ten points and 14 rebounds.

Elite Scholars Academy's win bumped their record up to 4-1. As for Northwest Classical Academy, their loss dropped their record down to 3-2.

Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Elite Scholars Academy has been crashing the boards this season, having averaged 33.4 boards per game. However, it's not like Northwest Classical Academy struggles in that department as they've been averaging 45.4 rebounds. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other basketball content.