Even though the Horseshoe Bend Mustangs scored an imposing 64 points on Saturday, the Notus Pirates still came out on top. Notus managed a 70-64 victory over the Mustangs. This was payback for Notus, who suffered a 46-42 defeat the last time these two teams met.
Notus' win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Luis Vargas, who almost dropped a double-double on 15 points and nine assists. It was the first time this season that Vargas posted eight or more assists. Another player making a difference was Grayson Benitez, who dropped a double-double on 13 points and ten rebounds.
Horseshoe Bend's defeat came despite a true team effort from the offense, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Porter Larson, who scored 25 points. Larson continues to roll, besting his previous point total in each of the last four games he's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Layth Bromgard, who dropped a double-double on 11 points and 15 rebounds.
Notus' victory bumped their record up to 9-5. As for Horseshoe Bend, they have traveled a rocky road recently having lost five of their last six matches, which put a noticeable dent in their 8-8 record this season.
Both squads are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Notus will take on the at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. The matchup should be an exciting one, as these teams are closely ranked in Idaho (Vision is ranked 117th, while the Pirates are ranked 96th). As for Horseshoe Bend, they will be playing in front of their home fans against the Ramblers at 7:30 p.m. on Monday. Cascade will be looking to extend their current four-game winning streak.
