2025-26 8th BB Nov 18 Preview

2025-26 Forsyth County Middle School Basketball Week 2

Last season’s top four — South Forsyth, Hendricks, Riverwatch, and Vickery Creek — all opened the 2025-26 8th grade basketball season with victories in Week 1. The top three picked up right where they left off, cruising to 20+ point wins over Liberty, Otwell, and DeSana, respectively. Vickery Creek, meanwhile, had to rally in the second half, storming back against Little Mill to secure their first win of the campaign. The final victory of last Thursday’s slate went to Piney Grove, which knocked off North Forsyth.

Now attention turns to Day 2 of the regular season. Lakeside tips off its season by hosting Hendricks in an early-season showdown between two perennial basketball powers. Piney Grove, fresh off its opening-night triumph, gets the day off.

Featured Matchup

Hendricks (1-0) @ Lakeside (0-0)

Date: Tuesday, November 18 | Tipoff: 6:30 PM (approx.)

Last season, Hendricks picked up a dominant 49-12 win over Lakeside. The win was the second in a stretch of six consecutive victories by 25 points or more, setting the tone for a season in which the Hawks established themselves as one of the county’s elite programs. For the second year in a row, this matchup will serve as the Lions’ season opener, giving Lakeside an early test against a well-coached, disciplined Hendricks squad.

Hendricks carried that momentum into Week 1 of the 2025-26 season, earning a 55-23 victory over Otwell. The Hawks came out aggressive on both ends, scoring in transition and dominating the boards, showing the same balance of offense and defense that made them a contender last year. With their veterans leading the way, Hendricks appears ready to pick up right where they left off.

Lakeside, meanwhile, is looking to rebound from a tough season in 2024-25. The Lions return a mix of veterans and new talent, hoping to assert themselves early against one of the county’s top teams. Their frontcourt will need to be physical on the boards, and perimeter defenders will have to stay disciplined to slow down the Hawks’ sharp shooting.

For both teams, this early-season matchup is about more than just a win. Hendricks wants to continue their dominant start, while Lakeside aims to set a tone for the season and prove they can compete with the county’s best. Expect a fast-paced, high-energy contest as the Lions and Hawks battle for early bragging rights in Forsyth County.

Other Matchups

Vickery Creek (1-0) is coming off a Week 1 comeback win over Little Mill. The Vipers now embark on their second road trip of the year, traveling a short distance to face DeSana (0-1). The Dragons opened their season with a tough loss to Riverwatch, a team expected to contend for the league crown once again.

Last year, Vickery Creek got the better of DeSana, defeating the Dragons 47-32. With the Vipers’ momentum from last week and their returning core of players, they’ll look to assert themselves as one of the county’s top 8th grade teams. DeSana, meanwhile, will aim to bounce back from their opener and defend their home court.

Little Mill (0-1) and North Forsyth (0-1) are coming off tough losses. The Mustangs gave Vickery Creek all they could handle, leading at halftime before the Vipers’ strong second-half performance carried them to victory. Meanwhile, the Wildcats traveled to Piney Grove and fought through multiple deficits, showing resilience late but ultimately falling short.

With the competitiveness of this league, both teams know that early setbacks can be difficult to overcome. Last season, North Forsyth defeated Little Mill, 55-35 during a hot start to their campaign. Both squads will be eager to write a different script this week.

Last year’s champions, South Forsyth (1-0), showed early in Week 1 that they will be contenders once again, thanks to a suffocating defensive performance in their victory over Liberty. Otwell (0-1) struggled in their season opener against Hendricks, last year’s runner-up. The Bulldogs stayed within striking distance early, but the Hawks turned up the pressure in the second half, pulling away for a decisive win.

South Forsyth dominated last season’s matchup with Otwell, winning 54-18, and Otwell now faces the challenge of opening the season against two of the league’s toughest teams for the second consecutive year.

Riverwatch (1-0) opened the 2025-26 season with an impressive win over DeSana, showcasing a balanced offensive attack and a strong defensive presence. Liberty (0-1), on the other hand, struggled in their opener against last year’s champions, South Forsyth, managing just 12 points.

The Patriots will need to solve their offensive challenges quickly as they face Riverwatch, who led all Week 1 teams in scoring. Last season, the Panthers rolled to a 42-24 victory over Liberty, and the Patriots will have to improve both scoring and defensive consistency to make this matchup competitive.

* All 8th-grade game times are approximate and are listed as one hour after the 7th-grade start times.

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