Preview: Torres Toros vs. Madera South Stallions
Torres has enjoyed a two-game homestand but will soon have to dust off their road jerseys. They will square off against the Madera South Stallions at 6:30 p.m. on Monday. Madera South took a loss in their last game and will be looking to turn the tables on Torres, who comes in off a win.
On Thursday, Torres earned a 45-32 victory over Sanger West. Given Torres' advantage in MaxPreps' California basketball rankings (they are ranked 416th, while Sanger West is ranked 984th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Torres can attribute much of their success to J'Lynn Mitchell, who scored nine points along with six rebounds and six steals, and Sabrina Cerrillo, who scored 12 points along with eight steals and five rebounds. Cerrillo has been hot recently, having posted two or more steals the last 12 times she's played. Nevaeh Chavez was another key contributor, scoring nine points along with two steals.
Madera South suffered their biggest defeat yet this season on Thursday. They were the victim of a tough 45-19 loss at the hands of Fresno. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest loss Madera South has suffered against Fresno since December 15, 2018.
Despite their defeat, Madera South saw several players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. MICHELLE CORONA, who scored seven points, was perhaps the best of all. The team also got some help courtesy of JALISSA KIRKPATRICK, who scored six points.
Torres' victory bumped their record up to 13-7. As for Madera South, they have been struggling recently, as they've lost three of their last four contests, which put a noticeable dent in their 8-12 record this season.
Monday's match is shaping up to be a scrappy contest: Torres have been smashing the glass this season, having only averaged 31.7 rebounds per game. It's a different story for Madera South, though, as they've been averaging only 0.6 rebounds per game. Given Torres' sizeable advantage in that area, Madera South will need to find a way to close that gap.
Everything came up roses for Torres against Madera South in their previous matchup back in December of 2023 as the squad secured a 61-32 victory. Does Torres have another victory up their sleeve, or will Madera South turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
