After eight games on the road, Damonte Ranch is heading back home. They will take on the Bishop Manogue Miners at 5:15 p.m. on Thursday. Damonte Ranch will have to bring their A-game into this one, as they are staring down a pretty big deficit in the MaxPreps Nevada Rankings (they are ranked 54th, while Bishop Manogue is ranked third).
Last Saturday, things could have been worse for Damonte Ranch, but they could have been a whole lot better as they took a 59-45 loss to Vanden.
The loss doesn't tell the whole story though, as several players had good games. One of the most active was Mya Ghisletta, who scored 16 points along with six rebounds. Another player making a difference was Quinn Garrett, who scored ten points along with seven assists.
Meanwhile, Bishop Manogue entered their tilt with Grants Pass with four consecutive wins but they'll enter their next game with five. Bishop Manogue managed a 48-42 win over Grants Pass on Saturday.
Bishop Manogue had a senior duo take command as Milasarai Tau dropped a double-double on 14 points and 11 rebounds and Mata Peaua scored 16 points. Peaua also scored 15+ points for the first time this season. Fa'anaetaua Puloka was another key contributor, scoring seven points along with six rebounds.
Damonte Ranch's loss dropped their record down to 2-7. As for Bishop Manogue, they pushed their record up to 6-1 with that victory, which was their fifth straight at home dating back to last season.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Damonte Ranch have been smashing the glass this season, having only averaged 30.1 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Bishop Manogue struggles in that department as they've been averaging only 27.6 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Damonte Ranch was dealt a bruising 62-25 loss at the hands of Bishop Manogue in their previous matchup back in February. Will Damonte Ranch have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get analysis of the match and other basketball content.
