Basketball Game Preview: Los Banos Tigers vs. Hilmar Yellowjackets

Los Banos and Hilmar are an even 5-5 against one another since December of 2015, but not for long. The Los Banos Tigers will take on the Hilmar Yellowjackets in a holiday battle at at 8:30 p.m. on Friday. Los Banos knows how to get points on the board -- the team has finished with 55 points or more in their past seven contests -- so hopefully Hilmar likes a good challenge.

Los Banos is probably headed into the match with a chip on their shoulder considering Johansen just ended the team's six-game winning streak on Tuesday. They fell 69-62 to the Vikings. The loss put an end to the Tigers' undefeated start to the season.

Even though the team lost, they still had their share of impressive performances. One of the best came from Fidel Rodriguez, who posted 11 points and eight rebounds. Eric Ramos was another key player, putting up 11 points and three steals.

Even though they lost, Los Banos smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 15 offensive rebounds. That's the most offensive boards they've managed all season.

Meanwhile, Hilmar was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their fourth straight loss. They had to suffer through a 78-50 loss at the hands of Pacific Grove.

Los Banos will have to contain Juelle Lindo as he made an impact in Hilmar's last game. He went 5 of 7 on his way to 13 points and three steals. Those 13 points gave Lindo a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Xavier Silveira, who put up 11 points and four steals.

Having lost for the first time this season, Los Banos fell to 6-1. As for Hilmar, their defeat dropped their record down to 1-5.

Los Banos was able to grind out a solid win over Hilmar when the teams last played back in December of 2023, winning 54-42. Does Los Banos have another victory up their sleeve, or will Hilmar turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.