The Rich Rebels had lost two consecutive heartbreakers to the Tabiona Tigers and they left with a heavy heart again on Friday. Rich received a tough blow as they fell 64-50 to Tabiona. Rich has not had much luck with Tabiona recently, as the team's come up short the last five times they've met.
When it comes to explaining why Rich lost, one person who can't be blamed is Jaden Desch. Despite the final result, he scored 14 points along with three blocks and two steals. Desch hasn't dropped below two blocks for three straight games. Carson Muirbrook was another key contributor, scoring 11 points along with nine rebounds.
Tabiona's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Chance Lazenby, who scored 17 points along with nine rebounds and three blocks. Lazenby is on a roll when it comes to rebounds, as he's now pulled down eight or more in the last three games he's played. Another player making a difference was Logan Rhoades, who scored nine points along with 12 rebounds and six assists.
Rich's loss ended a three-game streak of away wins and brought them to 6-4. As for Tabiona, the win (which was their sixth in a row) raised their record to 10-1.
Both squads will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Rich will face off against Altamont at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Tabiona won't have much time to rest: their next game is against Manila at 7:00 p.m. on January 13th. Manila is strutting with some offensive muscle, as they've averaged 65.1 points per game.
