The Mission College Prep Royals will challenge the Orcutt Academy Spartans at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.
Mission College Prep is probably headed into the game with a chip on their shoulder considering St. Joseph just ended the team's three-game winning streak on Tuesday. They came up short against the Knights, falling 60-35. The match marked the Royals' lowest-scoring contest so far this season.
Lillie Parish put forth a good effort for the losing side as she posted eight points along with seven boards and five steals. She is becoming a predictor of Mission College Prep's success: when she posts at least three steals the team is 8-3 (and 1-3 when she doesn't).
Meanwhile, Orcutt Academy had just enough and edged Righetti out 57-55 on Tuesday. Given the Spartans' advantage in MaxPreps' California basketball rankings (they are ranked 105th, while the Warriors are ranked 239th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Mission College Prep better keep an eye on Elizabeth Johnson. She was instrumental in Orcutt Academy's win, dropping a double-double on 29 points and 21 rebounds. The game was Johnson's 24th in a row with at least ten points. Rylie Allen was another key player, putting up four points and 14 boards.
Orcutt Academy smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 27 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least ten offensive rebounds in 24 consecutive contests dating back to last season.
Orcutt Academy is on a roll lately: they've won ten of their last 12 matches, which provided a nice bump to their 13-3 record this season. As for Mission College Prep, their defeat dropped their record down to 9-6.
Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Mission College Prep has been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 32.3 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Orcutt Academy struggles in that department as they've been averaging 45.4 boards. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.
Mission College Prep was able to grind out a solid win over Orcutt Academy in their previous meeting back in November of 2023, winning 46-38. One of the biggest obstacles the team faced in that game was Johnson, who dropped a double-double on 24 points and 15 rebounds. Now that she's got a second chance to win this matchup, will Mission College Prep still be able to contain Johnson? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.
