The Volunteer varsity basketball team (Church Hill, TN) will play a home conference game against Grainger (Rutledge, TN) today at 8:00 PM.

Here’s what you need Basketball to know:

What: Tennessee High School Basketball
Who: Volunteer vs Grainger
When: Friday, January 10, 2025
Time: 8:00. p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch Here

Grainger vs. Volunteer: A 2024-2025 Basketball Rivalry Preview

As the 2024-2025 basketball season heats up, fans in Rutledge and Church Hill are eagerly anticipating the upcoming matchups between the Grainger Grizzlies and the Volunteer Falcons. Both teams have had their share of ups and downs this season, and their next face-offs promise to be exciting, with plenty of action on the court. Here’s a breakdown of how these two teams are performing this season, their key stats, and what to expect in their upcoming games.

Team Overview

Grainger Grizzlies

• Overall Record: 3-11
• Home Record: 3-6
• Away Record: 0-4
• Neutral Record: 0-1
• Win Percentage: .214
• Points For (PF): 725
• Points Against (PA): 809

Grainger’s record this season has been challenging, but they continue to fight hard each game. Despite their struggles, the Grizzlies have shown some promise, with notable individual performances. As a team, Grainger averages 58.1 points per game, with their scoring spread out across all quarters. They have demonstrated resilience, particularly in the first quarter, where they average 22 points per game.

Volunteer Falcons

• Overall Record: 6-7
• District Record: 0-1
• Home Record: 2-1
• Away Record: 1-3
• Neutral Record: 3-3
• Win Percentage: .462
• District Win Percentage: .000
• Points For (PF): 811
• Points Against (PA): 799

Volunteer, with a 6-7 overall record, has been more consistent, especially on their home court. They average 62.4 points per game, with their offense picking up steam in the second half of games. Their scoring is led by a strong second and third quarter, which could pose a challenge for Grainger’s defense. The Falcons have a better overall record than Grainger, but they too have faced difficulties in district play, holding a 0-1 record within the district.

Key Player Stats

Grainger Grizzlies:

• Top Scorer: Owen Tullock (16.1 points per game)
• Top Rebounder: Lucas Gilliam (6.9 rebounds per game)
• Top Assists Leader: Griffin Head (2.7 assists per game)
• Top Steals Leader: Brycen Feagins (1.6 steals per game)
• Top Block Leader: Lucas Gilliam (1.3 blocks per game)

Volunteer Falcons:

• Top Scorer: The Falcons have a more evenly spread offense, but they rely on balanced contributions from all players.
• Top Rebounder: Lucas Gilliam also leads here, with 6.9 rebounds per game, matching Grainger’s leader in this category.
• Top Assists Leader: Griffin Head (2.7 assists per game)

Team Scoring Averages

• Grainger: 22.0 points in Q1, 18.0 in Q2, 13.0 in Q3, and 12.0 in Q4, for an overall average of 51.8 points per game.
• Volunteer: 15.5 points in Q1, 16.7 in Q2, 19.5 in Q3, and 17.7 in Q4, for a higher average of 62.4 points per game.

Volunteer’s scoring is more consistent throughout the game, particularly excelling in the second half, which gives them an advantage when it comes to closing out games. Grainger, on the other hand, will need to focus on maintaining their first-quarter momentum and adjusting their strategy to keep up with Volunteer’s high-scoring final two quarters.

Upcoming Games

• First Match: The Grainger Grizzlies will travel to Volunteer on January 14th for an exciting away conference game.
• Second Match: The Falcons will visit Grainger on January 31st for the return matchup at Grainger’s home court.

Both games will provide ample opportunities for each team to display their strengths and weaknesses. The first game, in particular, could offer insight into Grainger’s ability to compete on the road and Volunteer’s performance in their own gym.

Head-to-Head Comparison

When looking at their head-to-head matchups, Grainger holds a slight advantage with a 1-1 record against common opponents such as Elizabethton. Meanwhile, Volunteer is 0-3 against the same set of teams, showing that while they may have a better overall record, they’ve struggled against certain opponents. This could be a critical factor as both teams try to outpace each other in the district standings.

Final Thoughts

Both the Grainger Grizzlies and the Volunteer Falcons have unique challenges heading into these upcoming games. Grainger will need to improve their away form and find a way to maintain their early-quarter success, while Volunteer must work on consistency to finish games strong. With both teams showing signs of promise, the upcoming matchups will surely be entertaining, and the rivalry between these two schools is sure to continue heating up as the season progresses. Fans of both teams should mark their calendars for what is sure to be an exciting series of games.