Preview: Laughlin Cougars vs. Indian Springs Thunderbirds
The Laughlin Cougars will be playing at home against the Indian Springs Thunderbirds at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Both teams come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Laughlin scored the most points they've had all season to find success on Tuesday. They walked away with a 44-35 victory over Adelson. The win was just what Laughlin needed coming off of a 54-27 loss in their prior game.
Laughlin's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Daishanae Jackson, who scored 13 points. Another player making a difference was Lucy Braaksma, who scored nine points along with seven rebounds and two steals.
Meanwhile, Indian Springs waltzed into their contest on Friday with seven straight wins but they left with eight. They had just enough and edged Round Mountain out 40-37. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win Indian Springs has posted since December 1, 2023.
Indian Springs' success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Celina Pena led the charge by scoring eight points along with six steals. Pena is absolutely dominating the steal category: she's posted at least two every time she's taken the court this season. Oriyah Clay was another key contributor, scoring five points along with ten rebounds and three steals.
Laughlin's win bumped their record up to 4-7. As for Indian Springs, they pushed their record up to 11-2 with that win, which was their fourth straight at home.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Laughlin have been smashing the glass this season, having only averaged 11.1 rebounds per game. It's a different story for Indian Springs, though, as they've been averaging only 31.9 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Laughlin strolled past Indian Springs in their previous meeting back in December of 2022 by a score of 34-20. Will Laughlin repeat their success, or does Indian Springs have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
