The Peddie (Hightstown, NJ) varsity basketball team will play a home conference game against Hill School (Pottstown, PA) today at 7:00 PM.

Matchup Information:

• Hill School vs. Peddie
• Date: Saturday, January 18, 2025
• Time: 7:00 PM
• Live stream: Watch Here
• Live stream: Watch Here

Hill School and Peddie: A Tale of Two Basketball Seasons (2024-2025)

As we approach the halfway mark of the 2024-2025 basketball season, the Hill School and Peddie School from Pennsylvania and New Jersey respectively have provided their fans with a rollercoaster of performances, marked by impressive victories and tough losses. With both teams having faced common opponents, the contrasting nature of their seasons so far reveals much about their strategies, strengths, and areas for improvement.

Team Performance Overview

Hill School (9-2 Record)

The Hill School has had a strong start to their season with a remarkable 9-2 record. The team has dominated in non-league games, posting a 5-1 record, which highlights their ability to perform against teams outside their conference. However, their league play has been a different story, with the team failing to secure a win in their one conference game thus far.

• Home: 3-1
• Away: 2-1
• Neutral: 4-0
• Win %: .818 (Overall)

Their offensive prowess is evident, with the team averaging nearly 70 points per game (69.8). Hill School has managed to overpower most of their competition, with an average points-for (PF) of 768. However, they’ve allowed 655 points against them, which indicates some vulnerability on defense that they will need to address moving forward.

Peddie School (5-7 Record)

Peddie, on the other hand, has had a rougher start with a 5-7 record. While their overall performance has been inconsistent, their non-league record (3-1) has been better than their conference record (0-2). This disparity highlights their struggles when facing league competition, which will need to be addressed if they are to compete in the coming months.

• Home: 2-5
• Away: 0-2
• Neutral: 3-0
• Win %: .417 (Overall)

Peddie has posted a scoring average of 64.4 points per game. While this is lower than Hill School’s offensive output, their scoring efficiency is still solid given their overall record. The team’s points-for (773) is just slightly ahead of their points-against (753), indicating that their games are often close and could go either way with a few adjustments.

Common Opponents

Both teams have faced a series of common opponents, which offers insight into their performances relative to one another.

Hill School vs Common Opponents (5-2)

• Hill School has proven to be more dominant against common opponents, securing a 5-2 record. The team has achieved significant victories, including wins against Benedictine (86-74), Saint James (91-62), and George School (63-49). Their ability to win on neutral grounds, such as their win against Benedictine, underscores their strength outside of familiar environments.

Peddie vs Common Opponents (3-3)

• Peddie has also faced some success against common opponents, albeit with a more mixed record of 3-3. They were able to pull off convincing victories against teams like Benedictine (83-59) and Saint James (69-39), showing that when Peddie clicks on all cylinders, they are capable of big wins. However, their losses against teams like Westtown (53-44) and Blair Academy (64-50) highlight areas where the team may struggle to keep pace with tougher competition.

Breaking Down the Results

When looking at individual matchups, it is clear that Hill School has been more successful in a variety of settings—particularly in neutral-site games, where they have maintained an undefeated 4-0 record. Meanwhile, Peddie has struggled more in away games, holding a 0-2 record, which may suggest that they need to find ways to be more resilient on the road.

Some key matchups are highlighted by their games against strong teams such as George School and Westtown. While both teams were able to win against George School (Hill School: 63-49, Peddie: 68-65), their contests against Westtown were much more telling. Hill School narrowly defeated Westtown 60-57 at home, while Peddie lost 53-44 on the road. This discrepancy further emphasizes the home-court advantage for Hill School and the challenges Peddie faces away from home.

Looking Ahead

As the season progresses, both Hill School and Peddie will look to improve their records, with Hill aiming to extend their dominance in non-league play and Peddie striving to get on track in their league games. Both teams will face crucial tests, especially as conference matchups come into sharper focus.

For Hill School, continuing their offensive firepower and tightening up their defense will be essential to maintaining their impressive win percentage. For Peddie, a stronger road performance and consistency in league games will be the key to turning their season around.

Conclusion

The contrast between Hill School and Peddie this season showcases the varied trajectories of two elite basketball programs. Hill School is riding high on a strong record and impressive performances, while Peddie fights to find consistency and build momentum. As they both continue to navigate their schedules, the competition between them and their common opponents will be a crucial component in determining who can claim supremacy in the months ahead.