The Sun Valley High School (Monroe, NC) varsity basketball team will host a non-conference game against Ballantyne Ridge (Charlotte, NC) on Friday, December 13, 2024, at 7:30 PM.

Here’s what you need to know Basketball:

What: North Carolina High School Basketball
Who: Sun Valley vs Ballantyne Ridge
When: Friday, December 13, 2024
Time: 7:30. p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch Here

Basketball Showdown: Ballantyne Ridge vs. Sun Valley – A Midseason Comparison

As the 2024-2025 basketball season progresses, the teams from Ballantyne Ridge and Sun Valley have been going through their ups and downs. Both schools have seen their fair share of challenges, with mixed results in both their home and away games. Let’s take a deeper look into their performance so far this season, focusing on key metrics and the upcoming matchups between these two schools.

Record Breakdown

• Ballantyne Ridge (24-25) has faced a tough road, standing with a 2-4 overall record. Their performance at home has been slightly better, with a 1-2 record, but their away games have left much to be desired, also sitting at 1-2. Despite their struggles, the team has shown resilience, especially in their scoring averages, which could see them improve as the season continues.
• Sun Valley (24-25) has posted a slightly better record of 3-5. Their home games have been a bright spot, with a solid 2-1 record, but their away performances have been less favorable, dropping to 1-4. The team has also had its challenges in limiting the opposition’s scoring, which has contributed to their overall losing record.

Team Scoring Averages

When it comes to scoring, Sun Valley has outpaced Ballantyne Ridge on average, with 51.4 points per game compared to Ballantyne Ridge’s 47.8. In particular:

• Ballantyne Ridge has been most productive in the second half of games, averaging 16.7 points in Q4 and 15.3 points in Q3, which suggests that the team has the ability to mount late-game comebacks. However, their performance in the first half of games, especially in Q2 (9.3 points), shows room for improvement.
• Sun Valley, on the other hand, has been more consistent across all quarters. Their highest-scoring quarter is the first, with 15.5 points on average, but they maintain solid numbers in the second (11.5), third (14.3), and fourth (13.7) quarters.

Key Player Performance

Individual performances have also been a focal point in both teams’ campaigns:

• Ballantyne Ridge is led by Jaylin Powell, who has averaged 9.4 points per game, placing him as a top scorer for the team. Kaleel Benjamin has been a force in the paint, pulling down 5.5 rebounds per game, while Thanasi Papazis leads the team in assists with 3.2 per game.
• On the defensive side, Cam Whitted has been instrumental in creating turnovers, averaging 2.0 steals per game, and Jaylin Powell also leads the team in blocks with 0.6 per game.
• Sun Valley’s standout player is #5, who contributes a solid 9.4 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game, keeping the team competitive in both scoring and rebounding. Thanasi Papazis‘s performance as a facilitator with 3.2 assists per game has helped in setting up plays for his teammates. On the defensive side, Cam Whitted’s 2.0 steals per game and Jaylin Powell’s solid block numbers have given the team crucial defensive plays when needed.

Head-to-Head and Common Opponents

When comparing these two teams’ performances against common opponents, we can start with their matchups with Ardrey Kell:

• Ballantyne Ridge will meet Ardrey Kell on 12/20/24 and again on 1/28/25, with their first clash occurring away.
• Sun Valley, in contrast, already faced Ardrey Kell on 12/5/24, where they were defeated 66-54.

This gives us a snapshot of how each team might perform against a strong opponent, with Sun Valley already showing signs of struggle against a comparable team.

The Road Ahead

Both teams will need to improve in various areas if they are to push towards a stronger season finish. Ballantyne Ridge will need to get better at starting games strong, especially in the first half, while Sun Valley must focus on improving its performance in away games and limiting the opposition’s points to stay competitive.

As both teams head into the second half of the season, their matchups with teams like Ardrey Kell and others will be crucial in shaping their playoff aspirations. While Ballantyne Ridge is still trying to find its rhythm, Sun Valley has the edge in terms of overall performance, but both schools have the potential to turn things around with stronger team play and individual performances.

In the end, these two teams are poised to clash again, and it will be an exciting matchup to watch as each school continues to develop throughout the season.