Basketball Recap: Emalina Latu's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Sierra over El Capitan

Sierra lost against El Capitan back in December of 2023 and unfortunately they wound up with the same result on Tuesday. The Sierra Timberwolves took a hard 67-50 fall against the El Capitan Gauchos. While losing is never fun, the Timberwolves can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' California basketball rankings (they are ranked 429th, while the Gauchos are ranked 58th).

Sierra lost despite a true team effort on offense, the best among them being Emalina Latu, who went 5 of 7 en route to 10 points and three steals. Another player making a difference was Janessa Barnes, who posted eight points and six rebounds.

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12/10/24 - Home

50-67 L

Even though they lost, Sierra smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 15 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least nine offensive boards in 29 consecutive games dating back to last season.

El Capitan's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Alexis Valenzuela, who had 20 points in addition to seven boards and five steals. Valenzuela has been hot recently, having posted two or more steals the last three times she's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Madysen Dietz, who dropped a double-double on 14 points and ten steals.

Sierra's defeat dropped their record down to 3-3. As for El Capitan, the win keeps them at an undefeated 9-0.

Sierra wasted no time getting back out on the court and has already played their next match, a 74-33 loss against Atwater on the 18th. As for El Capitan, they also didn't take long to hit the court again: they've already played their next contest, a 59-45 victory against Manteca on the 11th.