Basketball Game Preview: Capital Jaguars vs. Manzano Monarchs

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Previous Games

02/26/24 - Home	65-63 W
02/24/24 - Home	65-57 W
02/06/24 - Away	64-62 W
02/17/23 - Away	61-59 W
02/01/23 - Home	56-61 L
+ 5 more games

Capital is 8-2 against Manzano since April of 2021 and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Thursday. The Capital Jaguars will venture away from home to square off against the Manzano Monarchs at 7:00 p.m. Both have had a bumpy ride up to this point with three consecutive losses for Capital and four for Manzano.

Capital is headed into the match out to prove that what happened against La Cueva on Tuesday (when they were outscored in every quarter) was just a minor bump in the road. Capital was beaten by La Cueva 83-48. While losing is never fun, the Jaguars can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' New Mexico basketball rankings (they are ranked 59th, while the Bears are ranked tenth).

Meanwhile, Manzano had to suffer through a 70-34 loss at the hands of Sandia.

Manzano's loss dropped their record down to 6-12. As for Capital, their defeat dropped their record down to 7-12.

Capital came out on top in a nail-biter against Manzano in their previous meeting back in February of 2024, sneaking past 65-63. One of the biggest obstacles trying to stand in the way of that victory was Manzano's Shane Erni, who dropped a double-double on 20 points and 17 rebounds. Now that he won't be playing on Thursday, will it be easier for Capital to walk away with another win? There's only one way to find out.