On 2/20/26, the Spring Mills Cardinals sent a loud message with an 84 - 59 win over the Martinsburg Bulldogs. Now the scene shifts to Martinsburg High School on 2/23/26, where the Bulldogs will look to respond on their home floor.
Spring Mills came into the matchup undermanned, missing two starters in Jayson “Huncho” Jones and Xavier Anderson. Anderson was suited up but never needed to check in—yet his presence was undeniable. You could hear him. You could feel him. The energy from the sideline matched the intensity on the floor.
And from the opening tip, the Cardinals were on attack mode.
They came out swinging knocking down shot after shot after shot. Akwasi, Tyler, Chase Jones, and a surprising spark in K’nes Stovall stepped up in a major way. Big plays. Big threes. Big momentum shifts.
As mentioned in my previous breakdown, if Akwasi and Tyler get going early, it’s going to be a long night for Martinsburg. That prediction proved accurate. Tyler capped off a dominant first quarter with a buzzer-beating three that electrified the gym and pushed the lead to 32–10 at the end of one. From there, Spring Mills never looked back.
To their credit, Martinsburg’s standout center Mikah Green finished with 19 points. But it was a quiet 19. By the time he found rhythm, the deficit was already overwhelming. Spring Mills executed a near-perfect game plan push the pace, stretch the floor, and apply relentless defensive pressure. They limited easy touches for Green and forced Martinsburg into uncomfortable possessions. Without consistent offensive help around their big man, the Bulldogs struggled to keep pace.
The Cardinals didn’t just win they dictated every aspect of the game.
Now all eyes turn to Monday’s rematch. Martinsburg will undoubtedly want to avenge that loss, especially on their home court. The key question becomes adjustment. How do they slow down the perimeter scoring of Spring Mills? How do they establish Green early and make him a true focal point before the game gets away from them?
It also becomes even more intriguing with the likely addition of missing piece Xavier Anderson. If he returns to full action, that adds length, versatility, and another scoring threat to an already explosive Spring Mills lineup. That changes matchups. That changes rotations. That changes everything.
Expect a different level of urgency from the Bulldogs. Pride will be on the line. But if Spring Mills brings the same shooting confidence, defensive tenacity, and now adds back Xavier Anderson to the mix, this rematch could feel very different from the opening tip.
I’ll be there on the sidelines capturing the intensity, the adjustments, and the emotion of this rivalry matchup through the lens.
Monday night should be intense.
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