The Royal High School varsity basketball team will play a home conference game against College Place on Friday, January 10, at 7:15 p.m.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: Washington High School Basketball
Who: College Place vs Royal
When: Friday, January 10, 2025
Time: 7:15. p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch here

Game Preview: College Place vs Royal

The College Place and Royal basketball teams are set for a high-stakes conference showdown on Friday, January 10, at 7:15 p.m. in Royal City, WA. This game will be an important test for both teams, who are currently on very different paths this season.

College Place’s Struggles and Strengths

College Place has had a challenging start to the 2024-2025 basketball season, with a 2-8 overall record. They have struggled in district play, currently holding a 0-4 record, and their home record is also less than ideal at 1-4. On average, College Place scores 53.5 points per game, but their defense has been an issue, allowing an average of 65.7 points per game.

Breaking down College Place’s scoring, the team has shown glimpses of success in the second quarter, where they score an average of 16.0 points, but they tend to fall off in other periods, especially the third quarter, where they score only 8.0 points on average. With a difficult schedule ahead, College Place will need to improve on both ends of the floor to stay competitive in their district.

Royal’s Perfect Season

In stark contrast, Royal has been a dominant force in the district, boasting a perfect 11-0 record heading into this matchup. The Knights are also undefeated in league play, sitting at 5-0. They have been impressive on both sides of the ball, averaging 74.6 points per game and allowing only 51.6 points per game. Royal has found success across the board, scoring consistently in each quarter with a particularly strong finish in the fourth quarter, where they score an average of 22.7 points.

Royal’s offense is led by an explosive team effort, and their defense has kept opponents in check. The Knights’ high-powered attack and lockdown defense have been key to their flawless record.

Head-to-Head Matchup

The upcoming game on January 10th marks the first of two meetings between College Place and Royal this season. College Place will be looking to get their first win in the district, while Royal will aim to keep their perfect record intact. This game will be a crucial test for both teams, with College Place seeking an upset and Royal looking to continue their dominance in the league.

The two teams will face off again on February 7th, at College Place’s home court, with both teams eyeing an important district victory as the season continues to unfold.

Common Opponents

Both teams have faced several common opponents this season, but their results have been vastly different. College Place has struggled, losing all six games against these shared opponents, including setbacks against Wapato, Cashmere, Connell, Kiona-Benton, and Zillah. On the other hand, Royal has triumphed in all six of their matchups against these same teams, further emphasizing their superiority so far in the season.

Here’s a quick look at how both teams fared against shared opponents:

• Naches Valley: College Place (L) 52-41 | Royal (W) 80-56
• Wapato: College Place (L) 78-59 | Royal (W) 68-44
• Cashmere: College Place (L) 58-51 | Royal (W) 89-51
• Connell: College Place (L) 57-48 | Royal (W) 78-39
• Kiona-Benton: College Place (L) 79-48 | Royal (W) 75-59
• Zillah: College Place (L) 99-44 | Royal (W) 75-59

Royal has demonstrated an ability to dominate their competition, whereas College Place has struggled against the same teams, highlighting the gap between these two programs.

Looking Ahead

The College Place vs. Royal matchup on January 10 will likely set the tone for the rest of the season for both teams. College Place will need to step up their defensive efforts and find ways to finish games strong in order to compete with the powerhouse that is Royal. Meanwhile, Royal will look to continue their flawless performance and extend their dominance in the district.

This game will be a chance for College Place to prove they can hang with one of the top teams in the state, while Royal will aim to keep their perfect season alive as they push toward the playoffs.

As the season progresses, both teams will need to continue improving in order to secure playoff spots, with Royal looking to maintain their momentum and College Place hoping to find a way to break their losing streak. Fans can expect an exciting and intense game when these two teams meet on January 10!