Basketball Game Preview: Lemoore Tigers vs. Pleasant Grove Eagles

The Lemoore Tigers will be taking part in a tournament against the Pleasant Grove Eagles at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday. Lemoore is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 61.5 points per game this season.

Pleasant Grove better have a healthy lead at halftime, because if last week is any indication, that's when Lemoore really get things going. Lemoore blew past Sierra Pacific 78-56 on Thursday. Given the Tigers' advantage in MaxPreps' California basketball rankings (they are ranked 324th, while the Golden Bears are ranked 652nd), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.

Lemoore can attribute much of their success to Papa Laye, who went 10 for 19 on his way to 23 points and six rebounds, and Jaimeir Campbell, who went 6 of 7 from beyond the arc on his way to 22 points. Those 23 points gave Laye a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Jacoby Notah, who posted seven points and three steals.

Lemoore 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 six consecutive matchups.

Meanwhile, Pleasant Grove came up short against Turlock on Tuesday and fell 60-51.

Lemoore will need focus on slowing down AJ Breslin, one of several Pleasant Grove players who made an impact when they last played. He had 11 points and six rebounds. Pharrell Williams was another key player, putting up 15 points and three steals.

Lemoore pushed their record up to 9-4 with the victory, which was their fifth straight at home dating back to last season. Those victories came thanks to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 76.0 points per game. As for Pleasant Grove, they have traveled a rocky road recently having lost three of their last four games, which put a noticeable dent in their 4-7 record this season.