Louisburg College's basketball team had a mixed bag of results in their two road games before the Thanksgiving break, showing both promise and struggles. The Hurricanes faced off against CCBC Dundalk and Frederick Community College, coming away with a win and a loss.

Game 1: Louisburg vs. CCBC Dundalk

The Hurricanes traveled to CCBC Dundalk for an early-season matchup that saw them come up short in a high-scoring affair. Despite a solid offensive effort, Louisburg fell 102-90.

Malachi McLean led the charge for Louisburg with a stellar performance, pouring in 30 points on 12-of-20 shooting, including 4-of-9 from beyond the arc. His scoring was a bright spot in an otherwise tough night for the Hurricanes. Ronald Bridges, Jr. added 19 points, while Nehemiah McDonald chipped in 13.

Louisburg kept pace in the first half, but struggled to maintain that momentum in the second. CCBC Dundalk was led by Xavier Barrow, who torched the Hurricanes for 37 points, shooting 13-of-21 from the field and 3-of-7 from deep. Barrow's impressive performance, combined with a balanced effort from his teammates, helped CCBC Dundalk pull away in the final minutes.

The Hurricanes were able to shoot 47.7% from the field and 66.7% from the free-throw line, but their 33.3% shooting from three-point range was not enough to overcome Dundalk's shooting prowess. Despite the loss, there were positives for Louisburg to take from the game, especially the performance of McLean, who continues to be a key offensive weapon.

Game 2: Louisburg vs. Frederick Community College

Louisburg rebounded nicely from their loss, earning a hard-fought 89-83 victory over Frederick Community College in a tightly contested game. The Hurricanes were led once again by McLean, who scored 12 points, but it was Ronald Bridges, Jr. who stood out with a game-high 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting. McLean's 5-of-19 shooting performance was off, but he still contributed in other ways, adding 3 assists and 3 rebounds.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets. Louisburg held a narrow 47-41 lead heading into the break, but the second half was just as intense. Frederick Community College, led by the efforts of Thierry Patchou, who scored 22 points, and Mike Davis, who contributed 16, made a late push. However, the Hurricanes' defense and timely shooting kept the home team at bay.

Nehemiah McDonald added 9 points, and Mykell Lawson contributed 18 points off the bench, including 4-of-9 from three-point range. Lawson's shooting helped spark a late rally for Louisburg, as they were able to withstand the pressure from the home team.

Despite shooting just 42% from the field and 28.9% from three-point range, Louisburg showed resilience, especially with their aggressive play on defense, forcing Frederick Community College into 19 turnovers. The win gave the Hurricanes a much-needed boost heading into the holiday break.

Looking Ahead

Louisburg College now heads into their Thanksgiving break with a chance to regroup and prepare for the rest of the season. Despite the loss to CCBC Dundalk, the team has plenty of positives to build on, especially in the form of McLean's scoring and Bridges' all-around contributions.

The Hurricanes will look to continue their momentum when they return to action, with a renewed focus on consistency and defense. As the season progresses, expect Louisburg to improve and continue to be a competitive force in their league.