Basketball Game Preview: Volcano Vista Hawks vs. Rio Rancho Rams

Volcano Vista has gone 10-0 against Rio Rancho recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Friday. The Volcano Vista Hawks will head out on the road to square off against the Rio Rancho Rams at 7:00 p.m. Rio Rancho took a loss in their last game and will be looking to turn the tables on Volcano Vista, who comes in off a win.

Volcano Vista took a loss when they played away from home on Friday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Wednesday. They came out on top against Piedra Vista by a score of 44-37. The victory was a breath of fresh air for the Hawks as it put an end to their five-game losing streak.

Mila Espinoza

Steals

01/22/25 vs Piedra Vista	4
01/17/25 @ Albuquerque	4
01/15/25 @ Sandia	2
01/11/25 vs Cleveland	2
01/10/25 vs Albuquerque	2

Mila Espinoza was her usual excellent self, putting up 21 points and four steals. She has been hot, having posted two or more steals the last seven times she's played. Haylo Whiteman was another key player, scoring six points.

Meanwhile, Rio Rancho faced Farmington in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Wednesday. Rio Rancho received a blow as they fell 63-44 to Farmington. The Rams haven't had much luck with the Scorpions recently, as the team's come up short the last two times they've met.

Rio Rancho's loss dropped their record down to 11-6. As for Volcano Vista, they now have a winning record of 8-7.

Everything came up roses for Volcano Vista against Rio Rancho in their previous matchup back in March of 2024, as the squad secured a 71-44 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for Volcano Vista since the team won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.