The Rincon/University Rangers suffered their closest loss yet this season on Friday. They fell just short of Cholla by a score of 69-67. Having run the score up that high, both teams probably have some extra defensive drills coming up.
When it comes to explaining why Rincon/University lost, one person who can't be blamed is Sam O'Dowd. Despite the final result, he scored 18 points along with five rebounds and four blocks. O'Dowd is on a roll when it comes to points, as he's now scored 15 or more in the last three games he's played. Another player making a difference was Abel Munoz-McDaniels, who scored 11 points along with seven assists and two steals.
Even though they lost, Rincon/University smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 14 offensive rebounds. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Cholla only pulled down five offensive rebounds.
Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Cholla to victory, but perhaps none more so than Michael Payne, who scored 21 points along with eight assists and two steals. Jerry Mendoza was another key contributor, scoring 15 points along with seven assists and six rebounds.
Rincon/University has not been sharp recently, as they've lost eight of their last nine games, which put a noticeable dent in their 6-12 record this season. As for Cholla, the victory was the third in a row for them, bringing their record for this year to 11-5.
Both squads will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Rincon/University will take on Cienega at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. Cienega knows how to get points on the board -- the squad has finished with flashy point totals in its past five contests -- so hopefully Rincon/University likes a good challenge. As for Cholla, they will head out on the road to square off against Ironwood Ridge at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Ironwood Ridge is coming into the match on a five-game losing streak.
