Basketball Preview: Empire Ravens vs. Willcox Cowboys
The Empire Ravens will head out on the road to face off against the Willcox Cowboys at 7:00 p.m. on Monday. Empire knows how to get points on the board -- the team has finished with flashy point totals in its past six contests -- so hopefully the Cowboys like a good challenge.
Even though Empire has not done well against the Eagles recently (they were 0-3 in their previous three matchups), they didn't let the past get in their way on Friday. Empire managed a 60-56 victory over the Eagles. Having run the score up that high, both teams might be doing some extra defensive drills very soon.
Empire's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Khari Gurley led the charge by scoring 12 points. Deshawn Washington was another key contributor, dropping a double-double on 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Willcox's recent rough patch got a bit rougher on Thursday after their third straight loss. They fell 56-49 to Benson. The defeat unfortunately continues a disappointing trend for Willcox in their matchups with the Bobcats: they've now lost eight in a row.
Empire's win bumped their record up to 16-10. As for Willcox, they have not been sharp recently as the team's lost four of their last five contests, which put a noticeable dent in their 9-17 record this season.
Empire came out on top in a nail-biter against the Cowboys in their previous meeting back in February of 2023, sneaking past 55-53. One of the biggest obstacles trying to stand in the way of that victory was Willcox's Joendy Ruiz, who scored 25 points along with five steals. Now that he won't be playing on Monday, will it be that much easier for Empire to walk away with another win? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.
