If the James Irwin Jaguars were riding high off their 82-48 takedown of the Dolores Huerta Prep Scorpions last Thursday, their most recent game may have dampened their spirits a bit. James Irwin fell just short of Banning Lewis Academy by a score of 52-49. The result shouldn't come as a shock considering that's the fewest points James Irwin has scored all season.
Despite the defeat, James Irwin saw an underclassman step up: Matthew Lebron scored 32 points along with four steals. The match was Lebron 's fifth in a row with at least ten points. Gabriel Rubio was another key contributor, scoring three points along with seven steals and three blocks.
James Irwin struggled to get the ball back on offense and finished the game with only four offensive rebounds. That's the fewest offensive rebounds they've managed all season.
Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Banning Lewis Academy to victory, but perhaps none more so than Feranmi Babatunde, who dropped a double-double on 13 points and 15 rebounds. Those 13 points set a new season-high mark for him. Another player making a difference was Ben Early, who dropped a double-double on 14 points and ten rebounds.
James Irwin's loss dropped their record down to 3-2. As for Banning Lewis Academy, the win was the fourth in a row for them, bringing their record for this year to 5-2.
James Irwin will be home for the holidays to greet Ellicott at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Ellicott is hoping to put an end to a three-game streak of away losses. Banning Lewis Academy will have some time to savor their win since their next game is a little ways off: they'll take on Buena Vista at 7:00 p.m. on January 5, 2024. The matchup should be an exciting one, as these teams are ranked near one another in Colorado (Buena Vista is ranked 63rd, while Banning Lewis Academy is ranked 50th).
