The Concord Academy (Concord, NC) varsity basketball team will play a neutral non-conference game against Hickory Ridge (Harrisburg, NC) today at 6 p.m.

Game Details:

• Matchup: Hickory Ridge vs. Concord Academy
• Date & Time: Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 6 p.m.
• Event: Carmel Christian MLK Showcase – Phenom Hoops
• Live stream: Watch Here
• Live stream: Watch Here

A Detailed Comparison of Hickory Ridge and Concord Academy’s 2024-2025 Basketball Seasons

As the 2024-2025 basketball season progresses, Hickory Ridge and Concord Academy have shown remarkable differences in their performance, making them intriguing teams to follow. The two schools have had their fair share of challenges and triumphs, and this article takes an in-depth look at their records, performances, and statistical comparison.

Overall Record and Performance

• Hickory Ridge: With a 7-8 overall record, Hickory Ridge is working hard to improve its performance. Their record includes a 2-2 conference standing, and while their home record stands at 3-3, they’ve struggled away, managing just 0-3. However, they have fared better in neutral-site games, with a 4-2 record. Despite the mixed results, Hickory Ridge has managed to score 1,066 points while allowing 1,026.
• Concord Academy: In stark contrast, Concord Academy boasts an impressive 22-3 overall record. Their conference record is perfect at 6-0, and they remain unbeaten at home (9-0) and have a solid 5-2 away record. Concord Academy has only one loss in neutral-site games (8-1). Their overall performance is reflected in their higher point tally of 1,774 compared to their opponent’s 1,251.

Scoring Averages

Both teams have similar scoring averages, but they slightly differ in how they accumulate those points throughout the game:

• Hickory Ridge averages 71.1 points per game, with an especially strong performance in the second quarter, where they score 19.9 points on average. Their scoring dips in the first quarter (13.3 points) but picks up in the third (17.4 points) and fourth quarters (15.9 points). Despite a drop-off in overtime (2.0 points), Hickory Ridge shows consistency across periods.
• Concord Academy, on the other hand, averages 71.0 points per game, with a similar pattern of scoring. They score 18.9 points in the first quarter and 18.4 in the second. Their third quarter performance (17.9 points) mirrors Hickory Ridge’s, while the fourth quarter sees a slight decrease to 15.4. The most notable difference for Concord Academy is their ability to excel in overtime (8.0 points), suggesting their capacity for late-game execution.

Team Statistics Comparison

When analyzing overall team statistics, Concord Academy tends to outperform Hickory Ridge in several key areas:

• Points Per Game: Concord Academy (68.2 PPG) averages higher than Hickory Ridge (71.1 PPG) in scoring.
• Rebounds: Hickory Ridge’s average of 27.5 rebounds per game is notably lower than Concord Academy’s, which stands at 40.4 rebounds per game.
• Assists: Hickory Ridge is a more effective passing team with 17.2 assists per game compared to Concord Academy’s 15.2 assists per game.
• Steals: Concord Academy has a slight advantage here, averaging 10.2 steals per game compared to Hickory Ridge’s 9.2 steals.
• Blocks: Concord Academy also leads in blocking, averaging 2.5 blocks per game versus Hickory Ridge’s 2.0 blocks.

Team Leaders

• Hickory Ridge:
  • Points Per Game: #21 James Minlend (13.3)
  • Rebounds Per Game: #2 Icare Bakadisula (4.9)
  • Assists Per Game: #5 Jake Benham (3.0)
  • Steals Per Game: #4 Gray Madeira (2.5)
  • Blocks Per Game: #4 Gray Madeira (0.7)
• Concord Academy:
  • Points Per Game: #5 Anthony Jackson (22.0)
  • Rebounds Per Game: #3 Ethan West (8.5)
  • Assists Per Game: #4 Marcus White (5.1)
  • Steals Per Game: #2 Miles Jennings (2.5)
  • Blocks Per Game: #2 Elijah Robinson (1.5)

While both teams have standout performers, Concord Academy seems to have an edge in depth, with a more balanced attack in terms of both scoring and defense.

Head-to-Head & Common Opponents

The two teams have faced some of the same opponents during the season. When matched against common opponents, both teams have a 1-1 record, showing some competitive balance.

• Hickory Ridge defeated Carmel Christian (72-71) but lost to Victory Christian Center (82-62).
• Concord Academy faced Carmel Christian and lost (54-49) while securing a win over Victory Christian Center (57-46).

Conclusion

In summary, while Hickory Ridge is striving to find consistency and improve its overall record, Concord Academy stands out as a powerhouse with a dominant season so far. Concord Academy excels not only in scoring but also in key defensive metrics, including rebounds and steals. Both teams have areas to improve, but with their respective leaders and overall team stats, the remainder of the season promises to be exciting for both schools.