Basketball Game Preview: Murrieta Valley Nighthawks vs. Chaparral Pumas

The Murrieta Valley Nighthawks will challenge the Chaparral Pumas at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. One thing working in Murrieta Valley's favor is that they have posted at least 55 points in their last five contests.

On Wednesday, Murrieta Valley needed a bit of extra time to put away Vista Murrieta. They skirted past the Broncos 77-75. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Nighthawks have posted since December 3, 2024.

Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Murrieta Valley to victory, but perhaps none more so than Jaizahn Lewis, who almost dropped a double-double on 27 points and nine boards. Lewis' evening made it 11 games in a row in which he has scored at least ten points. The team also got some help courtesy of Micah Smith, who almost dropped a double-double on 19 points and nine assists.

Meanwhile, Chaparral came up short against Great Oak on Wednesday and fell 57-49. The Pumas haven't had much luck with the Wolfpack recently, as the team's come up short the last four times they've met.

Chaparral's defeat dropped their record down to 11-9. As for Murrieta Valley, their win ended a three-game drought on the road and puts them at 13-8.

Murrieta Valley came up short against Chaparral when the teams last played back in January of 2024, falling 76-64. Can Murrieta Valley avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.