Preview: Loyola Cubs vs. Crespi Celts
The Loyola Cubs will head out on the road to take on the Crespi Celts at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, both teams will really light up the scoreboard.
Loyola can finally bid farewell to their four-game losing streak thanks to their game on Wednesday. They came out on top against Alemany by a score of 62-50. The win was just what Loyola needed coming off of a 71-34 defeat in their prior contest.
Meanwhile, Crespi had to endure a three-game losing streak, but that streak is no more. They walked away with an 80-72 win over Chaminade on Wednesday. Given Crespi's advantage in MaxPreps' California basketball rankings (they are ranked 25th, while Chaminade is ranked 134th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Crespi found their leader in underclassman Joe Sterling, who scored 24 points along with five rebounds. Sterling has been hot recently, having posted 15 or more points the last three times he's played. Peyton White was another key contributor, scoring 13 points along with eight rebounds and five assists.
Loyola's victory bumped their record up to 13-10. As for Crespi, their victory bumped their record up to 19-5.
Loyola skirted past Crespi 51-48 in their previous matchup back in January of 2023. The rematch might be a little tougher for Loyola since the squad won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
