The Big Pine Warriors will square off against the Baker Braves at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Big Pine has been getting the ball to fall more lately as they've increased their point totals each of their last three games.
Big Pine is headed into the game after thoroughly thrashing Owens Valley: they outscored them in every quarter. Given that consistent dominance, it should come as no surprise that Big Pine blew Owens Valley out of the water with a 70-16 final score. The Warriors have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won four matchups by 27 points or more this season.
Big Pine's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but DAMIEN HOTTENDORF led the charge by going 6 for 13 on his way to 13 points along with six rebounds and six steals. HOTTENDORF continues to improve, besting his previous point total in each of the last three games he's played. NOAH ERICSON was another key player, going 5 of 6 en route to 12 points.
Meanwhile, Baker had to suffer through a 69-38 loss at the hands of Lone Pine. The Braves haven't had much luck with the Golden Eagles recently, as the team's come up short the last eight times they've met.
Big Pine will have to keep a close watch on Anthony Ortiz and Anthony Ibarra, a pair of players who had a big impact on Baker's prior game. Ortiz went 7 for 12 on his way to 19 points in addition to six boards and four steals, while Ibarra posted 14 points and four steals. With that strong performance, Ortiz is now averaging an impressive 15.1 points per game. Angel Aguayo also deserves some recognition as he posted his first assist of the season.
Big Pine's win was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 8-2. Those victories came thanks to their defensive effort, having only surrendered 29.3 points per game. As for Baker, their loss was their first in the league, dropping their league record down to 3-1 and their overall record down to 3-6.
This contest is shaping up to be a blowout: Big Pine just can't miss this season, having drained 55.4% of their field goals per game. It's a different story for Baker, though, as they've only made 32.9% of their shots this season. Given Big Pine's sizable advantage in that area, Baker will need to find a way to close that gap.
Big Pine ended up a good deal behind Baker in their previous matchup back in February of 2024, losing 54-38. Thankfully for Big Pine, Richard Ibarra (who dropped a double-double on 19 points and ten rebounds) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.
