SEC basketball: Rematch Friday

For the first time in the 2020-21, there will be rematches in the Southeast Conference basketball schedule. Four teams in the league will start their second sweep around the conference, albeit before the first scheduled wave was completed.

Due to a disrupted schedule, Fairfield and Washington will show down just 20 days after their first one. The Trojans will travel to Washington for a girl-boy doubleheader, beginning at 6:15 p.m.

The two teams split the last matchup, which took place in Fairfield. The Trojan girls dominated 53-22, holding the Demons to just five points at halftime and nine points in the first three quarters. The Demon boys hung on for a 67-62 win, getting 20 points out of Kasen Bailey and 19 out of Ethan Patterson.

Fairfield's girls will come into the night at 1-0 in the SEC, having only played Washington in conference play. The Demon girls are 1-3 in the conference.

The Washington boys still sit atop the SEC boys standings, at 3-1. Fairfield still is searching for its first conference win, sitting at 0-2.

The Mt. Pleasant girls will host Fort Madison in a rematch of an overtime thriller at Fort Madison earlier this year. Andrea Lopreato scored 24 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in that win.

The Panthers and Bloodhounds are right on Fairfield's heels in the standings. Mt. Pleasant's girls are currently 3-1 in the SEC, and Fort Madison is 2-1.

The Panther boys battered the Bloodhounds 49-29 in their first SEC game this season, but they'll be playing a completely different Fort Madison squad. That game was played when Fort Madison was short on practice, having just come back from a COVID-19 related break.

Mt. Pleasant's defense held the Bloodhounds to just five first-half points in the SEC opener. Brevin Wilson and Dylon Hagans scored 13 apiece.

Mt. Pleasant and Fort Madison are both currently 2-2 in conference play. The Panthers and Bloodhounds are two of four SEC teams with .500 records.

It will be a full Friday of SEC action. Keokuk and Burlington also will played, with the girls playing at Burlington while the boys face off in Keokuk.