The Encina Prep Bulldogs will wrap up 2023 with a road trip to face off against the Victory Christian Vikings at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Encina Prep knows how to get points on the board -- the squad has finished with flashy point totals in its past eight contests -- so hopefully Victory Christian likes a good challenge.
Even though Encina Prep has not done well against Sacramento Waldorf recently (they were 1-8 in their previous nine matchups), they didn't let the past get in their way on Wednesday. Encina Prep wrapped up 2023 with a 62-47 win over Sacramento Waldorf. The final score was a far cry from the score of their previous head-to-head, which saw the teams combine for a single point.
Encina Prep's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Nate Wroten led the charge by scoring 17 points. Those 17 points set a new season-high mark for him. The team also got some help courtesy of Sergio De La Cruz, who scored 12 points.
Meanwhile, Victory Christian was within striking distance but couldn't close the gap on Wednesday as they fell 58-54 to Foresthill. It was the first time this season that Victory Christian let down their fans at home.
Encina Prep's victory was their fourth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 7-3. Those victories were due in large part to their offensive dominance across that stretch, as they averaged 73.8 points per game. As for Victory Christian, they have been struggling recently, as they've lost three of their last four matches, which put a noticeable dent in their 6-6 record this season.
Everything came up roses for Encina Prep against Victory Christian in their previous meeting back in January as the squad secured a 80-50 win. Does Encina Prep have another victory up their sleeve, or will Victory Christian turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
