Basketball Game Preview: McCurdy Bobcats vs. Jal Panthers

A feisty cat fight will be fought as McCurdy Bobcats challenge Jal Panthers at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. McCurdy has given up an average of 50.5 points per game this season, so hopefully the team got some defensive drills in this week.

McCurdy is probably headed into the match with a chip on their shoulder considering Mesa Vista just ended the team's five-game winning streak on Saturday. They fell 67-57 to the Trojans.

For whatever reason, it's the away team that's had the advantage when Jal and Hagerman meet (two straight games heading into this one) and that held true again on Wednesday. Jal fell to Hagerman 51-47.

McCurdy will need to focus on slowing down Nolbert Cervantes, one of several Jal players who made an impact when they last played. He posted 14 points in addition to eight rebounds and three steals. Cervantes is on a roll when it comes to steals, as he's now grabbed three or more in each of the last three games he's played. A3 Rodriguez was another key player, putting up ten points.

Jal's defeat dropped their record down to 15-12. As for McCurdy, their loss dropped their record down to 19-9.