The Ben L. Smith (Greensboro, NC) varsity basketball team will face off against Sun Valley (Monroe, NC) in a home tournament game today at 8 p.m. as part of the Gate City Holiday Tournament, hosted by Phenom Hoops.

Here’s what you need Basketball to know:

What: North Carolina High School Basketball
Who: Ben L. Smith vs Sun Valley
When: Friday, December 27, 2024
Time: 8:00. p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch Here

Team Comparison: Sun Valley vs. Ben L. Smith Basketball

As the 2024-2025 basketball season progresses, we take a closer look at two high school teams: Sun Valley and Ben L. Smith. With contrasting records and styles of play, these teams present an exciting comparison in terms of performance, scoring, and key players. Here’s a breakdown of their season so far and how they stack up against each other.

Team Records & Rankings

• Sun Valley (24-25):
  • Overall Record: 5-5
  • Home: 4-1
  • Away: 1-4
  • Win %: .500
  • Points For (PF): 540
  • Points Against (PA): 594
• Ben L. Smith (24-25):
  • Overall Record: 8-1
  • Conference Record: 2-0
  • Home Record: 3-0
  • Away Record: 2-0
  • Neutral Site Record: 3-1
  • Win %: .889
  • Conference Win %: 1.000
  • Points For (PF): 689
  • Points Against (PA): 393

Ben L. Smith stands out with an impressive 8-1 overall record, including a perfect 2-0 record in conference play. Sun Valley, on the other hand, holds a .500 win percentage with a balanced home record of 4-1 but struggles with a 1-4 mark on the road.

Scoring Breakdown

Both teams are capable of putting up significant points, but their scoring dynamics differ:

• Sun Valley:
  • Average Points Per Game (PPG): 54.0
  • Quarter Breakdown:
    • Q1: 16.1
    • Q2: 12.1
    • Q3: 13.8
    • Q4: 15.4
• Ben L. Smith:
  • Average Points Per Game (PPG): 76.6
  • Quarter Breakdown:
    • Q1: 25.0
    • Q2: 19.0
    • Q3: 22.0
    • Q4: 13.0

Ben L. Smith outperforms Sun Valley in terms of overall points, averaging nearly 23 more points per game. Their scoring is heavily concentrated in the first three quarters, while Sun Valley has a more balanced scoring distribution throughout the game.

Team Stat Comparison

• Points Per Game (PPG):
  • Sun Valley: 53.7
  • Ben L. Smith: 76.6
• Rebounds Per Game:
  • Sun Valley: 26.8
  • Ben L. Smith: No data available
• Assists Per Game:
  • Sun Valley: 13.2
  • Ben L. Smith: No data available
• Steals Per Game:
  • Sun Valley: 9.5
  • Ben L. Smith: No data available
• Blocks Per Game:
  • Sun Valley: 1.7
  • Ben L. Smith: No data available

While Sun Valley shows strong rebounding, assists, and steals numbers, Ben L. Smith’s offensive firepower overshadows the statistical comparison.

Key Players to Watch

• Sun Valley:
  • Noah McKinney: Leading scorer with 9.3 points per game
  • Kaleel Benjamin: Averaging 4.9 rebounds per game
  • Thanasi Papazis: Contributing with 4.1 assists, 2.1 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game
• Ben L. Smith:
  • No standout players listed for individual scoring and stats, but their overall performance suggests strong depth and balance across their roster.

Record Breakdown

The breakdown of both teams’ records shows contrasting performances in different settings:

• Sun Valley:
  • Home: 4-1
  • Away: 1-4
  • Non-League: 5-5
  • In-State: 5-5
• Ben L. Smith:
  • Home: 3-0
  • Away: 2-0
  • Neutral: 3-1
  • In-State: 8-1

Ben L. Smith has yet to lose on the road, and their perfect conference record suggests a strong cohesion and readiness for tough competition. In contrast, Sun Valley’s struggles away from home have been a factor in their middle-of-the-pack record.

Conclusion

As the season continues, Ben L. Smith appears to be the stronger team overall, with a higher win percentage and more potent offensive output. Sun Valley has shown some promise, especially at home, but will need to improve on the road to remain competitive. With key players like Noah McKinney and Thanasi Papazis, Sun Valley can be a formidable team, but Ben L. Smith’s balance and efficiency make them the team to beat in their respective conference and beyond.