Basketball Recap: Coachella Valley Comes Up Short

Coachella Valley had lost three straight at home, but on Friday they dropped down to 0-5 to make it four. They had to suffer through an 81-38 loss at the hands of the Citrus Hill Hawks. The Mighty Arabs were in a tough position after the first half, with the score already sitting at 44-22.

When it comes to explaining why Coachella Valley lost, don't look at Albert Sauceda. Despite the final result, he posted 20 points. Rene Rodriguez was another key player, putting up seven points.

As for Citrus Hill, their record now sits at 5-2. They have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won three contests by 27 points or more this season.

Citrus Hill was led to victory by Kason Steward and Nathan Marta. Steward dropped a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Marta shot 4-for-7 from deep and dropped a double-double with 18 points and 12 boards. Marta is also on a roll when it comes to shooting accuracy, as he's posted one of at least 58% in the last four games he's played. Another player making a difference was Alaric 'AJ' Hayes, who put up 12 points and five assists.

Looking ahead, Coachella Valley won't have much time to rest: their next matchup is against Yucaipa at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. The Mighty Arabs' defense better be ready for this one: the Thunderbirds have averaged an impressive 52.7 points per game this season. As for Citrus Hill, they and Silverado will face off at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday without much rest, having both just played.