The Stern Titans won the last time they faced the Smidt Tech Grey Wolves, and things went their way on Friday too. Stern walked away with a 53-42 victory over Smidt Tech. Given Stern's advantage in MaxPreps' California basketball rankings (they are ranked 519th, while Smidt Tech is ranked 1253rd), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Stern's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Mark Bautista, who scored 18 points. The game was Bautista's seventh in a row with at least ten points. The team also got some help courtesy of Vince Villanueva, who scored 16 points along with eight rebounds.
When it comes to explaining why Smidt Tech lost, one person who can't be blamed is Leo Pena. Despite the final result, he scored 16 points. Aaron Merlos was another key contributor, scoring nine points.
Stern's victory was their eighth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 7-2. Those good results were due in large part to their offensive dominance across that stretch, as they averaged 65.1 points per game. As for Smidt Tech, their loss dropped their record down to 3-6.
Both teams will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Stern will take on Animo De La Hoya at 3:30 p.m. on Monday. As for Smidt Tech, they will head out on the road to face off against Camino Nuevo Dalzell Lance Campus at 2:00 p.m. on Monday.
