Basketball Game Preview: Encina Bulldogs vs. Sacramento Waldorf Waves

The Encina Bulldogs just played yesterday, but they'll still head out to face the Sacramento Waldorf Waves at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Encina has a tough task ahead: they'll enter the match with three straight losses, while Sacramento Waldorf will come in with three straight wins.

Encina is headed into the game out to prove that what happened against Oakmont on Monday (when they were outscored in every quarter) was just a minor bump in the road. Encina was outmatched by Oakmont and fell 57-12. The contest marked the Bulldogs' lowest-scoring matchup so far this season.

Meanwhile, Sacramento Waldorf rang in the new year with a 54-45 victory over Foresthill on Friday.

Sacramento Waldorf's win came from a few key players Encina will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Liam Mason Melberg, who went 8 for 19 on his way to 25 points and five rebounds. The team also got some help courtesy of Liam Aldwinckle, who posted nine points in addition to five boards and three steals.

Sacramento Waldorf's win was their fifth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 12-3. They've dominated over that stretch too, winning by an average of 32 points. As for Encina, their defeat dropped their record down to 2-6.

Everything went Encina's way against Sacramento Waldorf when the teams last played back in January of 2024, as Encina made off with a 55-33 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for Encina since the team won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.