As the St. Mary’s (Annapolis) and St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) varsity basketball teams gear up for their highly anticipated conference matchup, both teams have already shown promising performances this season. With the game scheduled for 6:30 PM today, fans are excited to see how this head-to-head battle will unfold. Here’s a closer look at the teams, their performances, and key statistics ahead of this thrilling game.

St. Mary’s (4-4 Overall, 2-1 Region)

St. Mary’s has had a mixed start to their season, sitting at a .500 record overall. With an impressive 3-0 mark at home and a solid 2-1 record in their region, they’ve demonstrated resilience, especially on their home court. However, the team has struggled in away games, posting a 1-2 record on the road. Offensively, St. Mary’s averages 51.0 points per game, with Bailey Harris leading the charge, scoring an average of 23.4 points per game. Alexandra Vandiver is also a standout player, contributing 10.0 rebounds per game and 1.6 steals per game.

St. Frances Academy (6-1 Overall, 5-0 Region)

In contrast, St. Frances Academy has been dominating early in the season with a remarkable 6-1 record, including a perfect 5-0 mark in their region. The team has displayed a potent offensive attack, averaging 68.4 points per game, led by Sydney Sutton, who scores 21.6 points per game. The team also excels on defense, as they average 9.6 steals per game and 5.4 blocks per game, which will be a key factor in their matchup against St. Mary’s.

Key Team Stats

The stats reflect the different styles of play for these two teams:

• Points Per Game: St. Mary’s averages 51.0, while St. Frances Academy outpaces them with 65.7 points per game.
• Rebounds: St. Mary’s edges out St. Frances Academy with 33.8 rebounds per game, compared to 27.8 for St. Frances.
• Assists: Both teams share a similar assists average, with St. Mary’s at 16.1 and St. Frances Academy at 16.0 per game.
• Steals: St. Frances Academy has the upper hand here with 9.6 steals per game compared to St. Mary’s 6.0.

Team Leaders

St. Mary’s relies heavily on Bailey Harris, who averages 23.4 points per game, as well as Alexandra Vandiver, who leads in rebounds (10.0) and steals (1.6). St. Frances Academy, on the other hand, leans on Sydney Sutton for scoring and Dahni Suggs for rebounding and blocking shots. Suggs averages 7.6 rebounds per game and 3.6 blocks per game, making him a key defensive presence.

Common Opponents

Both teams have faced a few common opponents, though their records against them differ:

• St. Timothy’s: St. Mary’s won 61-47, while St. Frances Academy is yet to face them this season.
• Our Lady of Mount Carmel: St. Mary’s fell short 66-54, but St. Frances Academy triumphed 63-42.
• Archbishop Spalding: Both teams earned victories against this opponent, with St. Mary’s winning 56-41 and St. Frances Academy dominating 74-30.

St. Frances Academy holds a perfect record of 5-0 against common opponents, while St. Mary’s sits at 2-1.

What to Expect in Today’s Matchup

With the game set to begin in just a few hours, the key will be whether St. Mary’s can contain St. Frances Academy’s high-powered offense. The defensive play of Vandiver and Harris will be pivotal, as St. Frances Academy has demonstrated an ability to score quickly and in large quantities. Additionally, St. Mary’s will need to improve their away-game performance to stand a chance against the region’s top team.

Upcoming Matchup: January 29, 2025

These two teams will face off again on January 29, 2025, at St. Mary’s home court in Annapolis. With the high stakes of regional play, both teams will look to secure another crucial victory.

As both teams continue to build on their strong starts to the season, today’s game promises to be an exciting showdown. Fans of high school basketball in Maryland won’t want to miss this thrilling contest between two of the state’s top teams.