Basketball Preview: Katella Knights vs. Orange Panthers
Katella and Orange are an even 4-4 against one another since December of 2014, but not for long. The Katella Knights will venture away from home to square off against the Orange Panthers at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Katella is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 59.8 points per game this season.
Katella took a loss when they played away from home last Tuesday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Monday. They breezed by Samueli Academy to the tune of 71-35. The victory was a breath of fresh air for the Knights as it put an end to their three-game losing streak.
Katella's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Dillon Curtis led the charge by dropping a double-double on 20 points and 13 rebounds. Curtis continues to roll, besting his previous point total in each of the last three games he's played. Joseph Damian was another key player, posting 15 points along with six rebounds and three steals.
Katella smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 20 offensive rebounds. That's the most offensive rebounds they've posted since back in November of 2023.
Meanwhile, Orange scored the most points they've had all season on Monday, but it wasn't enough. They were dealt a 78-49 loss at the hands of St. Margaret's. The Panthers have struggled against the Tartans recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive lost matchup.
Even though the team lost, they still had their share of impressive performances. One of the best came from Sebastian Nunez, who had 13 points. The team also got some help courtesy of Mark Hernandez-Chino, who posted 12 points.
Katella's win bumped their record up to 2-3. As for Orange, their defeat dropped their record down to 1-5.
This contest is shaping up to be a blowout: Katella hasn't had any problem running up the score this season, having averaged 59.8 points per game. It's a different story for Orange, though, as they've been averaging only 31.3. The only thing between Katella and another offensive beatdown is Orange. Will they be able to keep them contained?
Katella skirted past Orange 57-54 in their previous matchup back in December of 2023. The rematch might be a little tougher for Katella since the team won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
