A feisty cat fight will be fought as Sierra Grande Panthers face off against Cheyenne Wells Tigers at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Last Saturday, Sierra Grande was able to grind out a solid win over Creede, taking the game 39-32. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Panthers.
Jaylyn Quezada
| 03/01/25 vs Creede | 15 |
| 02/14/25 @ Sangre de Cristo | 10 |
| 01/16/25 @ Lake City Community | 8 |
| 02/27/25 vs Trinidad | 7 |
| 02/15/25 vs Center | 6 |
| + 16 more games |
Sierra Grande got their victory on the backs of several key players, but it was Jaylyn Quezada out in front who dropped a double-double with 11 points and 15 steals. Quezada is becoming a predictor of Sierra Grande's success: when she posts at least five steals the team is 11-1 (and 3-8 when she doesn't). Another player making a difference was Yazmin Molina, who posted six points in addition to five boards and four blocks.
Meanwhile, you can't lose the game if you win every quarter, and that was precisely Cheyenne Wells's strategy against Elbert on Friday. Cheyenne Wells blew past Elbert 43-20. The Tigers have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won ten matchups by 20 points or more this season.
Sierra Grande better keep an eye on Paige Ryser. She was instrumental in Cheyenne Wells' win, almost dropping a double-double with 21 points and nine rebounds. Ryser is also on a roll when it comes to steals, as she's now grabbed three or more in each of the last 20 games she's played. Chamille Harrison was another key player, putting up six points and six boards.
Cheyenne Wells smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 19 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive boards in 13 consecutive contests.
Cheyenne Wells is on a roll lately: they've won three of their last four games. That's provided a nice bump to their 14-8 record this season. They've dominated over that stretch too, winning by an average of 22 points. Sierra Grande's record is now 14-9.
Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Sierra Grande has been crashing the boards this season, having averaged 26.8 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Cheyenne Wells struggles in that department as they've been averaging 28.9 boards. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.
Sierra Grande took a serious blow against Cheyenne Wells in their previous matchup back in March of 2022, falling 57-23. Can Sierra Grande avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
