The Montour High School varsity basketball team (McKees Rocks, PA) will host a home conference game against Lincoln Park Performing Arts (Midland, PA) today at 7:30 PM.

Game Details:

• Opponent: Lincoln Park Performing Arts
• Location: Montour High School
• Date & Time: Friday, January 17, 2025, at 7:30 PM
• Live stream: Watch Here

Lincoln Park Performing Arts vs. Montour: A Tale of Two Teams in 2024-25

The 2024-2025 basketball season has been a challenging one for the Lincoln Park Performing Arts (LPPA) boys’ varsity basketball team. With a tough start to the season, the team has struggled to maintain consistency, posting a record of 1-8 overall, including 0-3 in conference play. In stark contrast, Montour’s team has been on a dominant run, sitting at 10-1 overall, with a perfect 5-0 conference record.

Recent Performance

In their latest head-to-head encounter on December 22, 2024, Montour proved their superiority with a convincing 76-37 victory over Lincoln Park Performing Arts. The game highlighted the stark contrast between the two teams’ offensive and defensive styles. While LPPA struggled to score, putting up just 37 points, Montour’s balanced attack—led by their powerful offense—helped them rack up 76 points in the contest. Lincoln Park’s struggles were evident in the low scoring, with only 11 points in the first quarter and 8 in the second half, while Montour poured in 25 points in the first quarter alone.

Team Scoring Averages

Looking at the teams’ scoring averages, the differences are glaring. Lincoln Park is averaging just 44.1 points per game, with their highest-scoring quarter being Q2, where they average 14 points. Their lowest-scoring quarter comes in Q3, with only 6.5 points on average. Montour, on the other hand, has been much more efficient, averaging 64.9 points per game, with strong performances in every quarter—especially Q1 (21.3 points) and Q3 (18.0 points).

Key Players and Leaders

For Lincoln Park, Ama Tening Sow has emerged as a standout player, leading the team in points per game (22.1), rebounds (17.0), steals (1.2), and blocks (3.6). He’s been a bright spot in what has otherwise been a tough season for the team.

Montour also has a key player in their lineup, as the team’s scoring machine has been prolific in all phases of the game. The team is averaging 66.1 points per game, led by a balanced attack that includes excellent rebounding (31.1 RPG), assists (7.8 APG), and defense (5.2 SPG, 4.3 BPG). Montour’s top performers have been consistent in nearly every area of the game, allowing them to maintain their winning streak.

Common Opponents

Both teams have faced similar opponents during the season, but their results have been drastically different. Lincoln Park Performing Arts has yet to secure a win against common foes, losing all three matchups against Moon Area, Chartiers Valley, and Mars. Montour, on the other hand, has dominated these same teams, winning all their matchups, including a 51-45 victory over Moon Area, a 66-60 win over Chartiers Valley, and an 84-42 blowout against Blackhawk.

Home and Away Records

While LPPA has struggled at home (0-1), their performance on the road has also been disappointing, posting a 1-4 record away from home. Conversely, Montour has been excellent on the road, with a perfect 4-0 record in away games. Their home form has been just as solid, going 4-0 so far this season.

Looking Ahead

Despite their struggles, Lincoln Park Performing Arts will look to improve as they continue their season. With standout players like Ama Tening Sow leading the charge, there is still hope for better results. However, they will need to improve their offensive efficiency and strengthen their defense if they are to turn their season around.

Montour, on the other hand, will aim to maintain their unbeaten conference record as they continue their pursuit of a strong postseason run. With a combination of effective offense, stingy defense, and consistency in all areas, Montour looks poised to make a deep run in the playoffs.

Conclusion

As the season progresses, these two teams will face more challenges and opportunities. Lincoln Park Performing Arts will need to rally around their star players and work on consistency if they are to reverse their fortunes, while Montour will look to remain dominant and secure their position atop the standings. Fans can expect more exciting matchups between these two teams as the season unfolds.