Basketball Game Preview: Ayala Bulldogs vs. Walnut Mustangs

The Ayala Bulldogs will square off against the Walnut Mustangs at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Ayala picked up another tournament win on Tuesday. They took down Chino 52-38. The win was all the more spectacular given the Bulldogs' disadvantage in MaxPreps' California basketball rankings (they are ranked 367th, while the Cowboys are ranked 159th).

Ayala's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Addison Gonzalez, who went 8 for 19 on her way to 23 points and eight rebounds. Gonzalez continues to improve, besting her previous point total in each of the last three games she's played. Lilianna Acosta was another key player, dropping a double-double on ten points and 11 rebounds.

Meanwhile, it looked like the Kentucky Derby when Walnut faced off against Carson on Saturday. Walnut put the hurt on Carson with a sharp 38-15 victory. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Mustangs.

Ayala better keep an eye on Claire Olia. She was instrumental in Walnut's win, almost dropping a double-double on 16 points and nine rebounds. Olia is also on a roll when it comes to steals, as she's now grabbed two or more in the last five games she's played. Another player making a difference was Kameryn Perea-Saupan, who went 6 of 13 on her way to 13 points.

Walnut smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with ten offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least nine offensive boards in nine consecutive matchups.

Walnut's win was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 11-5. The wins came thanks to their defensive effort, having only surrendered 27.7 points per game. As for Ayala, they have been performing well recently as they've won four of their last five contests, which provided a massive bump to their 8-8 record this season.

Ayala might still be hurting after the 47-25 loss they got from Walnut in their previous matchup back in December of 2023. Will Ayala have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.