Grand Junction Central is 2-8 against the Wildcats since January of 2019 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Grand Junction Central Warriors will head out on the road to challenge the Fruita Monument Wildcats at 7:00 p.m. Grand Junction Central is no doubt hoping to put an end to a five-game streak of away losses dating back to last season.
Last Tuesday, Grand Junction Central was within striking distance but couldn't close the gap as they fell 48-43 to the Red Hawks.
Despite their loss, Grand Junction Central saw several players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. Camren Redding, who scored 18 points, was perhaps the best of all. Kaine Thorton was another key contributor, scoring six points along with nine rebounds.
Meanwhile, Fruita Monument put another one in the bag on Tuesday to keep their perfect season alive. They walked away with a 43-30 win over Grand Junction. Given Fruita Monument's advantage in MaxPreps' Colorado basketball rankings (they are ranked fifth, while the Tigers are ranked 63rd), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Fruita Monument got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Daniel Thomason out in front who scored 12 points along with four steals. Thomason is on a roll when it comes to steals, as he's now grabbed three or more in the last three games he's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Max Orchard, who scored nine points along with six rebounds.
Grand Junction Central has been struggling recently as they've lost three of their last four matchups, which put a noticeable dent in their 9-9 record this season. As for Fruita Monument, their win bumped their record up to 19-0.
Friday's game is shaping up to be a masterclass in shooting: Grand Junction Central have been dynamite from deep this season, having made 38.8% of their threes per game. However, it's not like Fruita Monument struggles in that department as they've made 50.7% of their threes this season. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Grand Junction Central came up short against the Wildcats when the teams last played back in February of 2023, falling 53-47. Can Grand Junction Central avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
