Basketball Game Preview: Shafter Generals vs. Delano Tigers

The Shafter Generals will look to take advantage of their home court for the first time this season as they take on the Delano Tigers at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Delano took a loss in their last matchup and will be looking to turn the tables on Shafter, who comes in off a win.

If Shafter beats Delano with 53 points on Tuesday, it's going to be the team's new lucky number: they've won their past two games with that exact score. Shafter blew past Mira Monte 53-17 back in December of 2024. That looming 53-17 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Generals yet this season.

Shafter found their leader in freshman Phillip Harrison, who dropped a double-double on 12 points and 11 rebounds. As a matter of fact, that's the most points Harrison has scored all season. The team also got some help courtesy of Adin Cardenas, who posted nine points and five boards.

Shafter smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 16 offensive rebounds. That's the most offensive boards they've posted since back in January of 2024.

Meanwhile, it's never fun to lose, and it's even less fun to lose 74-32, which was the final score in Delano's tilt against El Diamante on Saturday. The loss continues a trend for the Tigers in their matchups with the Miners: they've now lost five in a row.

Shafter will need focus on slowing down Marcos De Ocampo, one of several Delano players who made an impact when they last played. He put up eight points. Another player making a difference was Jotham Amodo, who posted nine points and five rebounds.

The win made it two in a row for Shafter and bumps their season record up to 3-6. As for Delano, their defeat dropped their record down to 1-9.

Shafter came up short against Delano when the teams last played back in January of 2024, falling 65-56. Can Shafter avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.