Basketball Game Preview: Norwalk Lancers vs. Warren Bears

Norwalk is 0-5 against Warren since November of 2019 but things could change on Wednesday. The Norwalk Lancers will host the Warren Bears at 8:00 p.m. That game will pit two of the most dominant guards against one another: Andruw Castellanos and King Johnson.

Last Friday, Norwalk was within striking distance but couldn't close the gap as they fell 48-42 to Bellflower. While losing is never fun, the Lancers can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' California basketball rankings (they are ranked 655th, while the Buccaneers are ranked 322nd).

Warren played in conference for the first time on Friday and they got just the result they we're looking for. They took their contest with ease, bagging a 79-42 win over Paramount. The match was pretty much decided by the half, when the score had already reached 46-21.

Norwalk better focus on containing Johnson and Jay'Mari Redmond as the pair were huge in Warren's win. Johnson almost dropped a double-double on 26 points and nine boards, while Redmond went 10 of 14 on his way to 21 points and five rebounds. The team also got some help courtesy of Jorge Mota, who posted six points along with 11 rebounds and five assists.

Warren smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 16 offensive boards. That's the most offensive boards they've managed all season.

Warren's victory ended a five-game drought on the road dating back to last season and puts them at 9-9. As for Norwalk, this is the second loss in a row for them and nudges their season record down to 12-8.

Norwalk suffered a grim 69-47 defeat to Warren when the teams last played back in January of 2024. Can Norwalk avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.