The Essex Varsity Basketball team will play a home conference game against St. Johnsbury Academy on Friday, January 17, at 7:00 PM.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: Vermont High School Basketball
Who: St. Johnsbury Academy vs Essex
When: Friday, January 17, 2025
Time: 7:00. p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch here

Game Preview: St. Johnsbury Academy vs Essex

The upcoming basketball season has been filled with exciting matchups, and the upcoming game between St. Johnsbury Academy and Essex is certainly one to watch. With both teams in different positions in their league standings, this contest promises to be a key moment in their respective seasons. Let’s break down the performance, head-to-head matchups, and recent trends of both teams.

Team Overview: St. Johnsbury Academy

St. Johnsbury Academy (SJA) has had a strong start to their season, with an overall record of 6-3. In their district, they are 2-3, but they’ve demonstrated an ability to perform well in non-district games, holding a 4-0 record in non-league contests. Their team scoring average is impressive, with an average of 60.1 points per game. They’ve shown a balanced offensive output, with strong performances in the first three quarters:

• Q1: 20.0 points
• Q2: 21.0 points
• Q3: 19.0 points
• Q4: 8.0 points

While their scoring tends to dip in the final quarter, St. Johnsbury has still managed to rack up wins, showing resilience through strong first-half performances.

Team Overview: Essex

In contrast, Essex has faced a challenging start to their season, currently sitting at 1-8 overall. Their district record is 0-6, and they have struggled in both home and away games, with a 0-4 record at home and 1-3 on the road. Essex’s scoring average is 52.8 points per game, with no specific breakdown for individual quarters available. The team will look to improve their offense and defensive strategies to climb back in the standings, as their recent performance has been lackluster, especially when facing teams like Rutland, Burlington, and Rice Memorial, against whom they’ve had significant losses.

Head-to-Head Matchup: St. Johnsbury Academy vs. Essex

The teams will meet for the first time on January 17, 2025, in an away game for St. Johnsbury Academy at Essex. The St. Johnsbury team will look to carry forward their momentum from previous victories, including wins against Colchester, Rutland, and Bellows Free Academy. On the other hand, Essex has struggled against similar opponents, such as Burlington and Rice Memorial, with a series of defeats marking their recent performances.

The second matchup between these two teams will take place on February 18, 2025, at St. Johnsbury Academy, where Essex will hope to turn things around and capitalize on any mistakes made by the home team.

Common Opponents Breakdown

The two teams have had contrasting results against common opponents. For example, St. Johnsbury Academy has a 4-3 record against shared rivals, while Essex has struggled to a 0-7 record. Here’s a breakdown of some key games against common opponents:

• Colchester: St. Johnsbury won 59-40 on December 18, 2024, while Essex faced Colchester on January 14, 2025.
• Rutland: St. Johnsbury defeated Rutland 59-48 on December 23, 2024, while Essex lost 62-47 to Rutland on December 30, 2024.
• Burlington: Both teams struggled against Burlington. St. Johnsbury lost 80-44 on December 29, 2024, and 80-44 again on December 30, 2024, while Essex also suffered losses against Burlington in December and January.

These results highlight St. Johnsbury Academy’s ability to maintain competitiveness, whereas Essex will need to adjust and improve against stronger opponents in order to turn their season around.

Record Breakdown

St. Johnsbury Academy

• Overall Record: 6-3
• District Record: 2-3
• Non-League Record: 4-0
• Home Record: 3-0
• Away Record: 3-2
• Neutral Record: 0-1

Essex

• Overall Record: 1-8
• District Record: 0-6
• Non-League Record: 1-2
• Home Record: 0-4
• Away Record: 1-3
• Neutral Record: 0-1

Key Takeaways and Looking Ahead

As St. Johnsbury Academy gears up for their away game against Essex on January 17, 2025, they will undoubtedly look to extend their winning streak and maintain momentum. With a solid offensive attack and a better overall record, they are the favorites in this matchup. On the other hand, Essex has a tough task ahead as they look to break out of their losing streak. Stronger performances against common opponents will be key for Essex to have a shot at upsetting St. Johnsbury.

In the next month, both teams will need to fine-tune their strategies and prepare for the February rematch. St. Johnsbury will be the team to beat, but Essex still has the potential to surprise if they can find their rhythm.

Stay tuned for more exciting Vermont High School basketball action as these two teams continue their respective journeys through the 2024-2025 season.