Record Sports Editor Chris Hobbs’ picks for Tuesday night’s top high school basketball games in the Greater Hickory area (girls’ games tip at about 6:15 p.m., boys’ games follow unless otherwise noted):
BOYS
Hickory (15-2, 5-0) at Fred T. Foard (11-5, 1-4): A Northwestern 3A-4A game that tips off about an hour early (7 p.m.) due to this week’s exam schedule.
The Red Tornadoes will go for their 13th straight victory, and they’ve won 11 straight over the Tigers and in their last six trips to Copas Gym.
Foard hasn’t beaten Hickory in boys’ basketball since December of 2006 and is 6-21 against the Red Tornadoes in the last 10 seasons.
West Caldwell (8-4, 6-0) at Newton-Conover (9-7, 4-2): In a Catawba Valley Athletic 2A game that starts about 7 p.m., the Warriors need a victory to hold onto first place.
The last time West Caldwell visited Lemon Gym, the Red Devils won 56-48. That’s the only blemish on the Warriors’ league record since the conference formed (33-1).
After an 0-3 start, West Caldwell has won eight of nine – and the last four games – to go a game up on second-place East Burke in the conference race.
The Warriors have won 25 of their last 31 battles with the Red Devils, including 10 of 13 in Lemon.
GIRLS
Hickory (16-1, 5-0) at Fred T. Foard (9-7, 2-3): Tip off time at Copas Gym, where Hickory has won five straight, is 5:30 p.m.
This has traditionally been one of the better girls’ basketball series in the Greater Hickory area, but the Red Tornadoes have been in control of late. In their five straight wins at Copas, the average win margin has been 55 points.
Hickory’s series win streak has reached 13, with the last Foard victory coming in the 2005-2006 West 3A Regional title game in Winston-Salem.
The schools have met 68 times since the early 1980s and Hickory has won 53 of those games.
West Caldwell (6-6, 4-2) at Newton-Conover (13-3, 5-1): A 5 p.m. start for a key Catawba Valley Athletic 2A game.
Newton-Conover is in second place and one game up on West Caldwell and East Burke.
Since the schools resumed their series in 2005-2006, the Red Devils have won all 13 matchups. Overall, Newton-Conover has won 22 of 27, dating back to 1994-95 when both schools were in the old Southern District 7 2A.
West Caldwell’s last series win came at Newton-Conover – 41-35 in January of 2001 in a season that saw the Warriors finish 4-20 and the Red Devils go 0-20.
LOOKING AHEAD
Two Friday night games you might want to consider attending:
-- In the Catawba Valley Athletic 2A, the league-leading and unbeaten Bandys girls travel to Draughn and will seek their sixth straight win over the Wildcats.
-- In the Northwestern 3A-4A boys’ race, contenders Alexander Central and St. Stephens meet at St. Stephens. If the Cougars win, they could solidify their hold on second place.
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