Basketball Game Preview: Sierra Grande Panthers vs. Cotopaxi Pirates

Sierra Grande and Cotopaxi are an even 5-5 against one another since February of 2015, but not for long. The Sierra Grande Panthers just played last yesterday, but they'll still welcome the Cotopaxi Pirates at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. Sierra Grande is coming into the contest hot, having won their last three games.

On Friday, Sierra Grande didn't have too much trouble with Creede as they won 49-35.

Sierra Grande got their victory on the backs of several key players, but it was Jaylyn Quezada out in front who posted 12 points along with five assists and five rebounds. Quezada has been hot, having also posted two or more steals the last seven times she's played. Eneria Quintana was another key player, almost dropping a double-double on 12 points and nine boards.

Sierra Grande smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 23 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least 16 offensive boards in three consecutive matchups.

Meanwhile, Cotopaxi suffered their closest loss since December 16, 2023 on Thursday. They fell just short of South Park by a score of 24-21. The game marked the Pirates' lowest-scoring contest so far this season.

The win got Sierra Grande back to even at 5-5. As for Cotopaxi, this is the second loss in a row for them and nudges their season record down to 5-3.

Sierra Grande strolled past Cotopaxi when the teams last played back in February of 2022 by a score of 45-27. Will Sierra Grande repeat their success, or does Cotopaxi have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.