2025-26 Boys Basketball

Week 4 Preview

With several teams already having five games under their belts, middle school basketball has officially reached the halfway point of the season. The early surprises have begun to fade, contenders are starting to separate themselves, and every result now carries added importance in the race toward Championship Saturday.

Week 4 once again features two full gamedays, with matchups scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday. As teams enter the second half of the season, consistency, depth, and late-game execution will become even more critical, making each night of action a key opportunity to gain ground in the standings or protect hard-earned positioning.

Little Mill has emerged as the clear favorite in 7th grade, separating itself from the rest of the field in dominant fashion. The Mustangs added two more lopsided victories last week, rolling past Riverwatch and Lakeside by margins of 56 and 41 points, respectively. To this point in the season, no opponent has managed to stay within 33 points of Little Mill on the scoreboard.

The numbers back up the eye test. Little Mill is averaging 59.5 points per game — the highest mark in the county across both 7th and 8th grade — while allowing just 19.6 points per contest, also best in either division. That combination of explosive offense and suffocating defense has made the Mustangs the most complete team in middle school basketball this season.

South Forsyth and Riverwatch remain within one game of Little Mill in the standings, but both have already suffered losses to the league leader. As a result, the gap is effectively larger than it appears, leaving Little Mill firmly in control as the season moves into its second half.

After Vickery Creek handed Riverwatch its first loss of the season last Thursday, the 8th-grade division was left with just two undefeated teams at the halfway point — Vickery Creek and South Forsyth. Of the two, the Eagles have been the more dominant side when measured by the numbers.

South Forsyth currently leads the league in scoring at 51.4 points per game, while its defensive performance has been even more impressive. The Eagles are allowing just 28.2 points per contest, the top mark in the division and 3.4 points per game better than the next closest team, Hendricks (31.6 OPPG). That balance on both ends of the floor has made South Forsyth the most complete team statistically through the season’s first half.

Vickery Creek, meanwhile, has found success in different ways and enters Week 4 ranked fourth in both scoring (46.8 PPG) and scoring defense (35.0 OPPG). Riverwatch and Hendricks sit just one game back in the standings, with Lakeside a game and a half behind, and together those five teams have begun to separate themselves from the rest of the field as the race tightens entering the second half of the season.

Vickery Creek and DeSana will both be idle this week, with Vickery Creek’s bye falling on Tuesday, December 9, and DeSana off on Thursday, December 11. The open dates come at a pivotal point in the season, giving both teams an opportunity to rest, regroup, and prepare for the stretch run as the league moves deeper into the second half of the schedule.

Riverwatch (5-1) @ South Forsyth (6-0)

Date: Thursday, December 11 | Tipoff: 6:30 PM (approx.)

Selecting a Featured Matchup this week proved challenging, as each of the top four teams in 8th grade squares off against one another on Thursday, December 11. Ultimately, the spotlight falls on Riverwatch’s trip to South Forsyth, a matchup that could have significant implications near the top of the standings as the season reaches its midpoint.

South Forsyth enters the matchup at 6–0 after a 43–32 win over Piney Grove on Tuesday night. The Eagles continue to follow the same blueprint that carried them to last season’s 7th-grade championship. While they rank near the top of the league offensively at 50.0 points per game, South Forsyth’s identity is built on the defensive end. Allowing just 28.8 points per contest — best in the division — that defensive consistency has been the driving force behind their perfect start.

Riverwatch stands at 5–1 after suffering its first loss of the season last week against Vickery Creek. The Panthers lead the league in scoring at 51.0 points per game, narrowly edging South Forsyth, and they have been nearly as effective defensively. Riverwatch is surrendering only 31.2 points per game, the second-lowest mark in the league, setting up a matchup between the division’s two most balanced teams.

South Forsyth is led by Adam Oche in scoring at 15.3 points per game. That includes a 31-point outburst against North Forsyth last week, the most points scored in an 8th grade game this season. After that the Eagles are  well-balanced with three other players scoring between 4.2 and 6.7 points per game.

Yafeth Samuel is leading Riverwatch in scoring with 17.0 points per game. Samuel has scored at least 12 points in all six games with a high of 22 points in two of the teams last three games. The Panthers are showing balance as well with four other players averaging 5.7 to 6.5 points per game.

With two of the league’s most efficient offenses and its top two defenses on display, this matchup shapes up as a strength-on-strength battle. South Forsyth’s disciplined, defense-first approach will be tested by Riverwatch’s league-leading scoring and the consistent production of Yafeth Samuel, while the Panthers’ ability to contain Adam Oche is likely to dictate the tempo on the other end. Both teams bring balance, depth, and proven scoring, setting the stage for a tightly contested game that could hinge on defensive execution and timely scoring late.

Vickery Creek (5-0) @ Hendricks (5-1)

Date: Thursday, December 11 | Tipoff: 6:30 PM (approx.)

This contest serves as a “Featured Game 2.0” this week, sitting just behind the Riverwatch at South Forsyth matchup, and it carries just as much significance in the standings. With positioning near the top of the league at stake, the outcome could have major implications as the season progresses.

Vickery Creek is coming off what may be the biggest win of the season, a 51–40 victory at Riverwatch last week that allowed the Vipers to remain undefeated. They sit just a half game behind South Forsyth in the league standings and rank fourth in both points scored (46.8) and points allowed (35.0). With a bye on Tuesday, Vickery Creek enters the matchup with Hendricks benefiting from additional rest and preparation time.

The Vipers have done just enough to win, relying more on consistency than dominance on either end of the floor. Vickery Creek does not feature a double-digit scorer, but its balance has been the key to its success. Five players are averaging at least four points per game, led by Jackson Armbrust at 9.0 points per contest, with Sargent Scordino close behind at 8.0 points per game.

Hendricks enters the matchup just one game out of first place in the standings. After a surprising home loss to DeSana in their third game of the season, the Hawks have responded with three straight double-digit victories. Even with that setback, Hendricks owns the third-highest average margin of victory in the league at +13.8. The Hawks are averaging 46.0 points per game, fifth-best in the division, while allowing just 32.2 points per contest, the third-lowest mark overall.

Hendricks finds itself in a similar position to Vickery Creek, without a double-digit scorer in its lineup. The Hawks rely on balance as well, with five players averaging at least 5.0 points per game. Reid Swinnie leads the group at 9.2 points per contest and has reached double figures in three games this season. He is followed by Colton Singer at 7.5 points per game, with Branam Carroll close behind at 7.0 points per contest.

With a win, Vickery Creek would add another statement road victory to its résumé, having already defeated Riverwatch and potentially claiming wins over two of the league’s top four teams. An undefeated mark would also give the Vipers a critical edge in the race for a first-round bye, especially with head-to-head tiebreakers beginning to take shape. For Hendricks, a victory would further validate its recent surge following the DeSana loss, strengthen its position just off the league lead, and significantly improve its chances of securing a first-round bye. Given how tightly packed the standings are near the top, this matchup carries postseason implications that extend well beyond a single night.

8th-grade start times are approximate and listed an hour after the 7th-grade start times.