Basketball Game Preview: Merino Rams vs. Loveland Classical Lions

The Merino Rams will challenge the Loveland Classical Lions at 6:15 p.m. on Friday. Merino is coming into the match on a six-game losing streak.

Merino blew Burlington out of the water the last time the pair played, but on Saturday Burlington got their revenge. Merino fell just short of Burlington by a score of 44-41.

Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Loveland Classical, who bounced back after a loss on the road last Saturday. They claimed a resounding 78-37 victory over STEM School Highlands Ranch. The Lions have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won 12 contests by 27 points or more this season.

Loveland Classical's win came from a few key players Merino will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Jackson Jensen, who went 8-for-11 to rack up 17 points in addition to six boards and five steals. Another player making a difference was Kole Doan, who dropped a double-double with 12 points and ten rebounds.

Loveland Classical was working as a unit and finished the game with 21 assists. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as STEM School Highlands Ranch only seven assists.

Loveland Classical pushed their record up to 19-3 with the win, which was their 21st straight at home dating back to last season. The wins came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 69.1 points over those games. As for Merino, their defeat dropped their record down to 6-16.