Basketball Game Preview: James Irwin Jaguars vs. La Junta Tigers

James Irwin is 2-8 against La Junta since February of 2015 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. A feisty cat fight is on tap when the James Irwin Jaguars take on the La Junta Tigers at 5:30 p.m. Both come into the match bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Having struggled with seven defeats in a row, James Irwin turned things around against Woodland Park on Wednesday. They really took it to the Panthers for the full four quarters, racking up a 47-9 victory. The Jaguars have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won three contests by 28 points or more this season.

James Irwin got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Stella Reed out in front who dropped a double-double on 13 points and ten rebounds. Those 13 points gave Reed a new career-high. Hannah Meier was another key player, putting up 11 points in addition to seven steals and six boards.

James Irwin smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 26 offensive rebounds. That's the most offensive boards they've managed all season.

La Junta played in conference for the first time on Wednesday and they got just the result they we're looking for. They secured a 40-35 W over Rye. The victory was a breath of fresh air for the Tigers as it put an end to their three-game losing streak.

James Irwin's win ended a three-game drought on the road and puts them at 3-7. As for La Junta, their victory bumped their record up to 6-9.

James Irwin came up short against La Junta when the teams last played back in February of 2024, falling 39-27. A big factor in that loss was the dominant performance of La Junta's Isabelle Aragon, who dropped a double-double on 15 points and 14 rebounds. Now that James Irwin knows the damage she can cause, will they be able to stop her this time? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.