Thursday basketball previews: Cove visits Joseph for twin bill

Published 12:30 pm Monday, February 5, 2024

The Joseph Eagle boys and girls basketball teams wrap up their regular seasons with a two-game home stand, Thursday and Friday, Feb. 8 and 9. On Thursday, the Cove Panthers invade the Joseph gym. Here are previews of Thursday’s games:

Cove girls at Joseph

When: 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 8.

Records: Cove, 4-18 overall, 6-20-8 1A Old Oregon League; Joseph, 9-11 overall, 5-3 1A Old Oregon League.

OSAA rankings: Cove is 52nd. Joseph is 22nd.

Overview: The Cove girls wrap up a three-game road trip with a trip to Joseph. The Leopards have lost 16 straight games and scored just nine points in their last game, a 50-9 loss at Wallowa.

The Joseph girls won the last meeting between the two teams, cruising to a 40-17 victory. Currently fifth in the league standings, the Lady Eagles return to the home court for the two final games of the regular season. In the team’s last outing, on Tuesday, Feb. 6, the Eagles lost at Powder Valley, 41-24. The team’s final regular season is Friday, Feb. 9, against Imbler. Tipoff is 6 p.m.

Cove boys at Joseph

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Records: Cove, 16-6 overall, 6-2 1A Old Oregon League; Joseph 9-11 overall, 5-3 1A Old Oregon League.

OSAA rankings: Cove is 17th. Joseph is 44th.

Overview: The Cove boys presently sit fifth in the 1A Old Oregon League standings, only one spot higher than Joseph. The Leopards make the trip to Joseph after winning six of the team’s last seven games. When the two teams met on Jan. 13, Cove pulled out a 44-36 home-court victory.

Joseph is back on the home court riding a four-game winning streak, including a recent road victory over Powder Valley.

The Eagles play their final two games before the home crowd and sit only two games behind Cove in the league standings.