Basketball Preview: Elbert Bulldogs vs. Fountain Valley Danes
The Elbert Bulldogs will look to defend their home court on Tuesday against the Fountain Valley Danes at 7:00 p.m. Elbert is coming into the game hot, having won their last seven games.
Elbert put the finishing touches on their eighth blowout victory of the season on Tuesday. They took their game on the road with ease, bagging a 80-23 win over Rocky Mountain Lutheran. Elbert's offense stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most points they've scored all season.
Elbert's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Eli Cornell, who scored 18 points along with seven assists and six steals. Cornell is on a roll when it comes to steals, as he's now grabbed three or more in the last five games he's played. Another player making a difference was Logan LaFollette, who scored 19 points.
Meanwhile, Fountain Valley came up short against the Eagles on Tuesday and fell 55-44. Fountain Valley has now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Even though the team lost, they still had their share of impressive performances. One of the best came from Jaden Lopez-Hardy, who scored nine points along with seven rebounds and two blocks. The team also got some help courtesy of Ian Rauber-Silviero, who scored seven points along with five rebounds and two steals.
Even though they lost, Fountain Valley smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 11 offensive rebounds. That's the most offensive rebounds they've managed all season.
Elbert pushed their record up to 10-3 with that win, which was their third straight on the road. They've been dominating during the matchups in that stretch too, as they've won by an average of 49 points. As for Fountain Valley, they have traveled a rocky road recently having lost four of their last five matchups, which put a noticeable dent in their 5-6 record this season.
Tuesday's game is shaping up to be a masterclass in shooting: Elbert have been dynamite from deep this season, having made 44.8% of their threes per game. However, it's not like Fountain Valley struggles in that department as they've made 42% of their threes this season. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Everything came up roses for Elbert against the Danes in their previous matchup back in February of 2023 as the team secured a 61-34 win. Will Elbert repeat their success, or do the Danes have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
