Basketball Game Preview: Newton HomeSchool Panthers vs. Ark City Christian Academy

The Newton HomeSchool Panthers will venture away from home to take on Ark City Christian Academy at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Newton HomeSchool will be strutting in after a victory while Ark City Christian Academy will be coming in after a defeat.

Newton HomeSchool is coming into the match on the come-up as their season has now been buoyed by two straight wins. They walked away with a 45-35 victory over Non Varsity Tournament Opponent on Saturday. That looming 45-35 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Panthers yet this season.

Newton HomeSchool can attribute much of their success to Theo Busenitz, who went 7 of 15 en route to 14 points and seven rebounds. The dominant performance gave Busenitz a new career-high in points. The team also got some help courtesy of Caleb Mayhew, who went 6 for 10 on his way to 13 points.

Newton HomeSchool smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 20 offensive boards. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their offensive board total in three consecutive games.

Meanwhile, Ark City Christian Academy had to start their season on the road back in December of 2024, and it wasn't the start they were hoping for. They took a blow against Smoky Valley Home Educators, falling 66-21. Ark City Christian Academy just can't catch a break and has now endured five losses in a row dating back to last season.

Newton HomeSchool's win bumped their record up to 3-10. As for Ark City Christian Academy, their defeat dropped their record down to 0-1.

Everything came up roses for Newton HomeSchool against Ark City Christian Academy in their previous meeting back in February of 2024, as the squad secured a 64-18 victory. In that contest, Newton HomeSchool amassed a halftime lead of 36-8, an impressive feat they'll look to repeat on Friday.