Basketball Game Preview: El Rancho Dons vs. Orange Panthers

By Team Reports Dec 28, 2023, 2:43am

Preview: El Rancho Dons vs. Orange Panthers

The El Rancho Dons will finish 2023 at home by hosting the Orange Panthers at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.

Last Tuesday, couldn't have asked for a better way to wrap up 2023 than the 60-28 stomp they got on the road against Capistrano Valley. With El Rancho ahead 31-9 at the half, the matchup was all but over already.

El Rancho's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Emery Riker, who dropped a double-double on 14 points and 13 rebounds. Riker has been hot recently, having posted eight or more rebounds the last five times she's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Ariel Marquez, who scored 20 points along with three steals.

Meanwhile, everything came up roses for Orange on the road against Capistrano Valley on Wednesday as the team secured a 47-19 win. The victory made it back-to-back wins for Orange.

El Rancho's win bumped their record up to 10-5. As for Orange, their win bumped their record up to 9-4.