Local Girls Basketball – 1/29

With the regular season rapidly coming to a close, here are the most recent results and outlooks for the girls' basketball teams in northeastern California:

Bear River Bruins: Last Friday night, the Bruins traveled to Roseville and upset the Oakmont Vikings, 58-26, to secure third place in the Pioneer Valley League (PVL). Last night, 1/28, after the deadline for this week’s edition, theteam hosted Antelope’s Center Cougars (the PVL’s seventh-place team), and I expect the Bears had an easy time securing a victory. If so, with games against the weak Wheatland Pirates and Mira Loma Matadors before our next issue, I expect the team will be riding a five-game winning streak when they play the PVL’s first-place team, the Colfax Falcons, on Friday, 2/6.

Chester Volcanos: After beating the Los Molinos Bulldogs, 33-24, last Friday evening, the Volcanos won a non-conference contest against the Princeton Eagles, 67-16, on Monday, 1/26. Then, the next night, in a battle for first place in their Five Star League, the Volcanos faced a much tougher opponent, the Redding Christian Lions, and lost 20-28. Next week, the team will be highly favored in contests with the Princeton Eagles and CORE Butte Lynx, teams they have already beaten easily this season.

Colfax Falcons: Last week, the Falcons maintained first-place in the PVL with strong victories over Roseville’s Oakmont Vikings (73-13) and the Marysville Indians (55-32). Last night, yes, after our deadline, the Falcons faced the PVL’s second-place unit, the Lincoln Fighting Zebras. If the Falcons win, the team will almost certainly secure the PVL championship.

Herlong Vikings: This week, the Vikings hosted the Westwood Lumberjacks on Tuesday, 1/27, and posted a 45-24 victory, their second of the year. Unfortunately, earlier this season, the team lost to all three teams it will play between now and the end of the season. Thus, the odds of the Vikings securing another victory this year are low.

Lassen Grizzlies: Since our last report, the Grizzlies lost 37-42 to the Yreka Miners and outscored the Central Valley Falcons, 58-20. Tomorrow night, 1/30 at 7:30 PM, the Grizzlies will host the West Valley Eagles, a team with a stronger Northern League record. Can home court advantage be enough to give the Grizzlies an upset victory?

Loyalton Grizzlies: With an impressive 43-6 victory over the Princeton Eagles last Friday night, the Grizzlies remain atop the standings in the Pioneer League with a 5-0 record. Tomorrow night, riding a 10-game winning streak, the team plays the winless Westwood Lumberjacks, and I expect the Grizzlies will easily extend their unbeaten streak. In fact, with their final regular-season games against the relatively weak Plumas Charter Warriors, Princeton Eagles, and Herlong Vikings, the Grizzlies have a good chance of finishing their season on a 14-game winning streak and winning the Pioneer League championship.

Modoc Braves: After a solid 57-40 victory over the Trinity Wolves last Friday night, the Braves fell victim to the Shasta-Cascade League’s first-place team, the Weed Coyotes, by a score of 55-63. In the remaining four games of the Braves’ regular season, the team will face teams they have already beaten this year. By repeating these efforts, the Braves will certainly clinch second place in their conference and earn a spot in postseason play.

Nevada Union Miners: As I predicted last week, the Hillmen won all three of their games since our last report, easily outscoring the Yuba City Honkers (46-32), River Valley Falcons (64-29), and Del Campo Cougars (68-33). Thus, the Miners will go into tonight’s game in Auburn against the Placer Hillmen (who are first in their conference) seeking a tie for first place in the Foothill Valley League.

Placer Hillmen: When the Hillmen take the court in Grass Valley tonight against the Nevada Union Miners, the team will be carrying a 10-game winning streak. If they beat the Miners, and since the Hillmen are highly favored in their remaining games, Placer is in a great position to finish the regular season with an overall record of 22 wins, only 2 losses, and the Foothill Valley League championship.

Plumas Charter Warriors: After an eight-day break since crushing the Westwood Lumberjacks, 51-13 (on Tuesday, 1/20), last night, the Warriors traveled to play a nonconference game with the Biggs Wolverines. Then, on Friday, 1/30, the Warriors take on the Princeton Eagles at home. If the Warriors are victorious against the Eagles, Plumas Charter will be playing for a first-place tie in the Pioneer League when they host the Loyalton Grizzlies on Friday, 1/30 at 4 PM.

Portola Tigers: With a 36-33 upset of the Maxwell Panthers on Tuesday, 1/27, the Tigers broke a 3-game losing streak. And, before our next edition, the Tigers are nowfavored to beat the Williams Yellowjackets tomorrow night. Next Tuesday, 2/3, the Tigers host the Quincy Trojans. Will playing at home help the Tigers avenge the 31-46 loss handed to them by the Trojans on 1/16?

Quincy Trojans: While the Trojans drubbed the Williams Yellowjackets, 61-39, last Friday evening, the Trojans took a 43-49 loss in their contest with the Hamilton Braves on Tuesday, 1/27, of this week. Tonight, the team hosts the Biggs Wolverines, who beat the Trojans 36-28 earlier this month. However, if Quincy is able to take full advantage of playing with the support of their hometown crowd, the Trojans could reverse this outcome.

Truckee Wolverines: The Wolverines’ five-game winning streak came to an end when they lost, at home, a battle for a tie for first-place in their conference to the South Tahoe Vikings, 37-49. Given the fact that the Wolverines beat each of their final four opponents earlier this season, the team is in a great position to secure second place in the 3A Northern-West League.

Westwood Lumberjacks: With their 24-25 loss to the Herlong Vikings earlier this week, the Lumberjacks remain winless this season. Unfortunately, the odds of the team beating any of its last three opponents this season (the Loyalton Grizzlies, Paradise Adventist Academy Cougars, and Plumas Charter Warriors) are slim.