The Wasilla High School varsity basketball team is set to play a home tournament game against Oregon Episcopal School (Portland, OR) today at 5:15 p.m.

Here’s what you need Basketball to know:

What: Oregon High School Basketball
Who: Wasilla vs Oregon Episcopal
When: Saturday, December 21, 2024
Time: 5:15. p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch Here

Oregon Episcopal vs. Wasilla: A 2024-2025 Basketball Season Comparison

As the 2024-2025 basketball season unfolds, two teams—Oregon Episcopal and Wasilla—stand out for their solid performances and competitive matchups. Despite different geographical locations and styles of play, these two schools offer intriguing comparisons in terms of their season records, statistical achievements, and performances against common opponents. Here’s an in-depth look at each team’s record, performance metrics, and key matchups as they look to dominate their respective conferences.

Oregon Episcopal: Solid Start to the Season

Oregon Episcopal enters the season with a 5-2 overall record, boasting an impressive 3-0 home record and a 1-0 neutral-site win. They have proven themselves formidable at home, but have struggled on the road with a 1-2 record away. Their overall win percentage stands at .714, indicating a strong performance thus far.

Offensive and Defensive Scoring: The team’s offense averages 58.6 points per game, with a significant scoring output of 16.0 points in the first quarter and 27.0 points in the third quarter, highlighting their strength in early and third-quarter play. Despite some struggles in the second quarter (only 7.0 points on average), their ability to finish strong, particularly in the third period, makes them a team to watch.

Team Leaders: Oregon Episcopal’s standout player is Max Holzman, who leads the team with 15.0 points per game. Joe Schwalbach follows closely with impressive contributions in multiple categories: 11.0 rebounds per game, 4.0 assists, 5.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks, showcasing his all-around game and leadership.

Wasilla: Strong but Inconsistent

Wasilla, with a 2-1 overall record, is also performing well early in the season, though their home and away splits are more balanced, with a 2-1 home record and an untested 0-0 away record. Their overall win percentage stands at .667, which is slightly behind Oregon Episcopal’s .714, but still strong.

Team Scoring: While Wasilla’s offensive output is a bit lower at 53.3 points per game, the team has shown resilience, particularly in close games. They have yet to provide detailed scoring breakdowns by quarter, but their overall points suggest they focus on keeping games within reach and closing strong.

Team Leaders: Wasilla lacks the standout scoring leader that Oregon Episcopal boasts, but their strength lies in collective contributions. The team’s balance shows in their lack of dominant stats across points, rebounds, and assists, allowing for a more team-oriented approach. Still, their ability to remain competitive despite having lower average points per game is notable.

Common Opponents: A Tale of Close Battles

Both teams have faced off against the Colony and South Anchorage schools, offering a glimpse into how they stack up against similar competition.

• Against Colony:
  • Oregon Episcopal played Colony on December 18, 2024, losing 56-47.
  • Wasilla faced Colony on December 20, 2024, also losing, but by a larger margin—56-40.
• Against South Anchorage:
  • Oregon Episcopal is set to play South Anchorage on December 20, 2024.
  • Wasilla faced South Anchorage on December 19, 2024, and came out victorious with a 65-60 win.

These results show that both teams are competitive, but Oregon Episcopal has a slight edge, particularly in their win over South Anchorage, compared to Wasilla’s more mixed results.

Key Takeaways

• Oregon Episcopal has been dominant at home and has managed to score more consistently throughout the game, particularly in the second half. Their leadership, particularly from Holzman and Schwalbach, gives them a strong edge in individual performance.
• Wasilla has shown resilience, particularly with their win over South Anchorage, but their consistency may depend on improving their scoring numbers and finding a key player to lead them offensively.

As the season progresses, the matchup between these two teams could become a pivotal one for both schools. Whether Oregon Episcopal maintains its home dominance or Wasilla finds a way to improve their road performance will be key to determining their eventual standing in the league.

With a few more games under their belts, both teams will have a chance to refine their strategies and move forward in the 2024-2025 season with even greater intensity.