Preview: Palo Verde Titans vs. Safford Bulldogs
Palo Verde is 5-0 against Safford since February of 2015, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Friday. The Palo Verde Titans will be playing in front of their home fans against the Safford Bulldogs at 7:00 p.m. Palo Verde has been getting the ball to fall more lately as they've increased their point totals each of their last three games.
Palo Verde posted their biggest victory since November 28, 2023 on Tuesday. They claimed a resounding 85-42 win over San Miguel on the road. Given Palo Verde's advantage in MaxPreps' Arizona basketball rankings (they are ranked 108th, while San Miguel is ranked 335th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Palo Verde's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Kameron Pippen led the charge by scoring nine points along with seven steals and six assists. Rozzy Martin was another key contributor, scoring 17 points along with two steals.
After soaring to a 63-point win in their last game, Safford came back down to earth on Tuesday. They fell just short of Pusch Ridge Christian Academy by a score of 62-60. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest loss Safford has suffered yet this season.
Palo Verde's win bumped their record up to 15-5. As for Safford, their defeat dropped their record down to an identical 15-5.
Palo Verde was able to grind out a solid win over Safford in their previous matchup back in January of 2023, winning 70-59. Does Palo Verde have another victory up their sleeve, or will Safford turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
