Basketball Recap: J.R Fong Key Part of a Team Effort in Lobos Win

Hayden won against Superior last Friday with 64 points and they decided to stick to that point total again on Tuesday. The Hayden Lobos came out on top against the Ray Bearcats by a score of 64-57. That's the second time they've managed to beat them this season, as they also won 55-49 back in December of 2024.

Hayden's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but J.R Fong led the charge by almost dropping a double-double on 22 points and nine boards. Those 22 points gave Fong a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Mario Hong, who dropped a double-double on 14 points and 14 rebounds.

Hayden smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 24 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive boards in eight consecutive matches.

Despite the defeat, Ray saw an underclassman step up: freshman Chase Chester went 10 of 17 on his way to 25 points. The contest was Chester's third in a row with at least ten points. Jhett Young was another key player, going 7 for 17 en route to 16 points.

Hayden now has a winning record of 10-9. As for Ray, their loss ended a three-game streak of wins at home and dropped them to 11-12.

Both squads will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Hayden will head out to take on Baboquivari at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. As for Ray, a feisty cat fight is on tap when the Ray Bearcats take on the Superior Panthers at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Ray is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 56.9 points per game this season.