The Rincon/University Rangers suffered their closest loss yet this season on Friday. They fell just short of Cholla by a score of 69-67. Having run the score up that high, both teams might be doing some extra defensive drills very soon.
Despite the loss, Rincon/University still got an impressive performance from Sam O'Dowd, who scored 18 points along with five rebounds and four blocks. Another player making a difference was Abel Munoz, who scored 11 points along with seven assists and two steals.
Even though they lost, Rincon/University smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 14 offensive rebounds. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Cholla only pulled down five offensive rebounds.
Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Cholla to victory, but perhaps none more so than Michael Payne, who scored 21 points along with two steals. Jerry Mendoza was another key contributor, scoring 15 points along with seven assists and six rebounds.
Rincon/University has traveled a rocky road recently, as they've lost eight of their last nine matches, which put a noticeable dent in their 6-12 record this season. As for Cholla, the victory was the third in a row for them, bringing their record for this year to 11-5.
Both teams will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Rincon/University will square off against Cienega at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. Cienega has been dominant on offense recently, as they've racked up an incredible 355 points over their last five matches. As for Cholla, they will head out on the road to take on Ironwood Ridge at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Ironwood Ridge has now lost eight straight, and the team is hunting for their first win since December 13.
