Our weekly high school sports show at locally owned Sonic Drive-In returns tonight from 6-7 p.m. on Archer Road. “The Prep Zone Sports show” is broadcast  ‘live’ and ‘archived’ online (audio only) at MainStreet Daily News.

The bookend shows, before the holiday break and the first show of the new year, has put a spotlight on girls weightlifting in the area.

Our final episode of “The Prep Zone” sports show for 2025 featured the GHS girls weightlifting team on Dec. 17. Tonight, the Eastside girls weightlifting team and head coach Tameika Greenlee will be my guests.

Next Wednesday, the unbeaten Buchholz boys soccer team will join the program from Sonic Drive-In on 39^th Avenue.

On Thursday night, it’s an FHSAA Rural showdown as the Trenton boys basketball team, ranked No. 5 in the latest FHSAA boys basketball rankings, hosts defending state champion Hawthorne.

The visiting Hornets (4-3), who are ranked 14^th in the Rural classification, have dominated the series against the Tigers (12-4). Hawthorne has won 19 in a row since 2007.

Join Marty Pallman (Play-by-play) and Mac McCray (Color) beginning at 6:45 p.m. for the pregame show. The tip is at 7 p.m.

Then on Friday, it’s a city showdown as the Eastside Rams host the Buchholz Bobcats at “Herman ‘Pop’ Williams Gymnasium” in a matchup of potential playoff teams.

Buchholz, which has won five in a row in the series, including a 5-point win (48-43) at home last January and a 6-point win (44-38) at Eastside on Dec. 20, 2024, is currently the No. 7 seed in Class 6A-Region 1.

The Bobcats are 11-5 heading into Thursday night’s home game against The Rock’s varsity team (10-3).

The Rams have a chance to at least double their win total from last season, when they finished 4-19. Eastside (7-5), which hosts Newberry (12-1) tonight, is currently the No. 5 seed in 4A-Region 2.

Pallman and McCray will have the coverage at 7:15 p.m. The tip is at 7:30 p.m.