Basketball Recap: Tulare Union Comes Up Short

Tulare Union entered their match against Lemoore on Wednesday without any home losses, but there's a first time for everything. The Tulare Union The Tribe took a 69-63 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Lemoore Tigers. The The Tribe were not able to repeat the success they had when they faced the Tigers earlier this season, when they won 58-36.

Demaje Riley

Points (Career)

01/29/25 vs Lemoore	40
01/24/24 vs Tulare Western	29
12/21/24 vs Corcoran	28
12/05/24 vs Monache	28
01/04/24 vs Fresno	25

Despite the loss, Tulare Union still got an impressive performance from Demaje Riley, who went 13 of 31 on his way to 40 points and three steals. Those 40 points gave Riley a new career-high. Buddy Lockard was another key player, putting up four points and eight boards.

Lemoore got their victory on the backs of several key players, but it was Papa Laye out in front who went 7 for 16 to rack up 21 points and eight rebounds. The team also got some help courtesy of Micah Fox, who went 8 of 18 en route to 21 points along with eight boards and three blocks.

Tulare Union is on a three-game losing streak that has dropped them down to 19-5. As for Lemoore, their record now sits at 15-10.

Tulare Union has already played their next contest, a 58-56 win against Hanford on the 31st. As for Lemoore, they also didn't take long to hit the court again: they've already played their next game, a 73-51 victory against Mission Oak on the 31st.