Preview: Navarro Bulldogs at Panola Ponies

CARTHAGE, Texas (Interstat) — Two men’s junior college basketball teams trending in opposite directions will meet Saturday when the Navarro Bulldogs visit the Panola Ponies.

Navarro (6-7) looks to halt a two-game skid, most recently a 73-70 home loss to Blinn on Wednesday. The Bulldogs have lost four of their last five contests.

Panola (7-6), meanwhile, has won two straight, including a 55-42 defensive victory over Angelina on Wednesday. The Ponies have won three of their last four.

A key matchup will feature Navarro’s Mekhai Bryant against Panola’s CJ Worsham. Bryant, a consistent performer, is coming off a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double in a loss to Lamar State-Port Arthur on Jan. 3. Worsham anchors the Ponies’ interior, averaging 13.5 points and 8.0 rebounds over his last two games, both wins. He posted 8 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks against Angelina.

Navarro’s offense has shown flashes, scoring 86 points in a win over Lee last month, but has struggled with consistency. Panola has relied on a stout defense, holding opponents to an average of 57 points during its current win streak.

The Bulldogs will need to improve ball security after narrow losses to Blinn and Bossier Parish. The Ponies will look to control the paint behind Worsham and Benicio Leons, who had 8 rebounds and 4 assists in the last outing.

This marks the first of two regular-season meetings between the Region XIV rivals. They will meet again in Corsicana on Feb. 7.

Saturday’s tipoff is set for 4 p.m. at the Arthur Johnson Gymnasium.