Basketball Game Preview: Laughlin Cougars vs. GV Christian Guardians

The Laughlin Cougars are taking a road trip to challenge the GV Christian Guardians at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. Laughlin hasn't scored more than 23 points for three games straight, a trend the team is eager to reverse.

Laughlin is headed into the game out to prove that what happened against Needles on Tuesday (when they were outscored in every quarter) was just a minor bump in the road. Laughlin was dealt a 51-7 defeat at the hands of Needles. The Cougars were in a tough position after the first half, with the score already sitting at 32-3.

Despite the loss, Laughlin saw an underclassman step up: sophomore Valeria Quintero posted four points and three steals.

Meanwhile, after soaring to 60 points the game before, GV Christian was a bit more limited in their match on Tuesday. They lost to Lake Mead Christian Academy on the road by a 41-22 margin. The Guardians' defeat signaled the end of their three-game winning streak.

Laughlin will have to contain Samantha Charron as she made an impact in GV Christian's last game. She went 7 of 13 on her way to 14 points and seven rebounds. The team also got some help courtesy of Ellie Thurman, who put up four points in addition to 11 rebounds and four steals.

Even though they lost, GV Christian smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 15 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least nine offensive boards in ten consecutive contests.

Laughlin's loss dropped their record down to 1-4. As for GV Christian, their defeat was their first in the league, dropping their league record down to 3-1 and their overall record down to 7-9.

Laughlin was able to grind out a solid victory over GV Christian in their previous matchup back in February of 2024, winning 32-25. Does Laughlin have another victory up their sleeve, or will GV Christian turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.