Basketball Game Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Santa Paula Cardinals

The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Santa Paula Cardinals will round out the year against one another at at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. Given that both suffered a loss in their last games, they both have a little extra motivation heading into this contest.

Cleveland is headed into the match having just suffered their biggest loss since January 31st on Thursday. They took a blow against Saugus, falling 66-37. The game marked the Cavaliers' lowest-scoring contest so far this season.

Meanwhile, Santa Paula came up short against Verdugo Hills on Friday and fell 64-54. While losing is never fun, the Cardinals can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' California basketball rankings (they are ranked 691st, while the Dons are ranked 253rd).

Cleveland's defeat dropped their record down to 2-5. As for Santa Paula, their loss dropped their record down to 6-8.

Cleveland took their win against Santa Paula in their previous meeting back in December of 2023 by a conclusive 66-45. Will Cleveland repeat their success, or does Santa Paula have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.