If the Macksville Mustangs were feeling good off their 62-33 takedown of the Kinsley Coyotes last Tuesday, their most recent game may have dampened their spirits a bit. Macksville lost to Bucklin on the road by a decisive 71-54 margin on Friday. Macksville was given a dose of their own medicine in this game as Bucklin apparently hadn't forgotten their defeat the last time these teams played back in February of 2023.
When it comes to explaining why Macksville lost, one person who can't be blamed is Diego Esparza. Despite the final result, he scored 23 points along with eight rebounds and four steals. Esparza hasn't dropped below two steals for four straight games. The team also got some help courtesy of Kendall Grippin, who scored 17 points.
Macksville's loss ended a 15-game streak of away wins dating back to last season and brought them to 10-6. As for Bucklin, they have been performing well recently as they've won five of their last six games, which provided a nice bump to their 12-7 record this season.
Macksville will head out on the road to face off against Otis-Bison at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Otis-Bison is coming into the matchup with eight straight losses at home, meaning Macksville will have to defend against a squad hungry for a win. Bucklin will take on Ashland at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Bucklin knows how to get points on the board -- the team has finished with flashy point totals in its past six matchups -- so hopefully Ashland likes a good challenge.
