Preview: East Los Angeles Huskies at Los Angeles Trade Tech Beavers

LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — A tight California Community College Athletic Association men’s basketball rivalry will be renewed Friday when the East Los Angeles Huskies visit the Los Angeles Trade Tech Beavers.

The Huskies (16-9) enter on a hot streak, having won six of their last seven games, including a 107-85 rout of Rio Hondo last Friday. The Beavers (13-13), seeking to get back to .500, are looking to rebound from a 75-61 road loss to Los Angeles City College in their last outing.

This matchup is a quick rematch of a thrilling contest from Feb. 4, which East Los Angeles won 76-75 on its home floor. The Huskies have won three straight overall.

A key player to watch is East Los Angeles forward Terrence Hampton. He is coming off a dominant 17-point, 11-rebound, five-assist performance against Rio Hondo and recorded a triple-double in that game. In the Feb. 4 win over Trade Tech, Hampton posted 17 points and 10 rebounds. Over his last six games, he has averaged a double-double.

For the Beavers, forward Will Smith III will be central to their efforts. He scored 11 points with five rebounds in the previous meeting with East Los Angeles and is capable of big performances, as shown by a 25-point, 11-rebound game in a Jan. 30 overtime loss to Mount San Antonio.

The Huskies’ recent surge has been fueled by high-scoring offense, topping 100 points in two of their last three games. The Beavers have shown they can also put up points, having scored 97 or more in three of their last seven contests, but consistency has been an issue.

Friday’s game will tip off at 7 p.m. PST at Los Angeles Trade Tech College. The outcome will carry significant weight for conference positioning as the regular season enters its final weeks.