Basketball Game Preview: Crystal City Javelinas vs. Columbus Cardinals

Two dominant guards in Christopher Mena and Grayson Rigdon are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Crystal City Javelinas will face off against the Columbus Cardinals at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Each of these teams will be fighting to keep a win streak alive as Crystal City comes in on 14 and Columbus on 12.

Crystal City is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Monday. They took down West Oso 79-61.

Christopher Mena

Points

02/24/25 vs West Oso	37
02/21/25 @ Luling	27
02/18/25 vs Marion	22
02/11/25 vs Jourdanton	15
02/07/25 @ Natalia	24
+ 12 more games

Mena was his usual excellent self, going 6-for-9 from beyond the arc on his way to 37 points in addition to six boards and three steals. His morning made it 17 games in a row in which he has scored at least 15 points. The team also got some help courtesy of Jayden Rousseau, who went 7-for-16 to rack up 18 points along with six assists and four steals.

Meanwhile, Columbus escaped with a win on Tuesday against London by the margin of a single free throw, 81-80.

Crystal City better keep an eye on Rigdon. He was instrumental in Columbus' win, going 13-for-27 en route to 39 points in addition to eight rebounds and five steals. That makes it seven consecutive games in which Rigdon has scored at least a third of Columbus' points. Another player making a difference was Brody Tribe, who dropped a double-double with 13 points and ten boards.

Columbus smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 19 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least 14 offensive rebounds in 14 consecutive contests.

Crystal City's record is now 23-7. As for Columbus, their record is now 15-2.