Barstow Looks to Ride Momentum Into Showdown With Los Angeles Valley

BARSTOW, Calif. (Interstat) — The Barstow College Vikings, fresh off a thrilling overtime victory, will look to carry that momentum on the road Friday against the Los Angeles Valley College Monarchs in a California community college men’s basketball matchup.

The Vikings (3-6) snapped a four-game skid with a 96-92 overtime win at El Camino on Thursday. Barstow’s attack was led by a dominant performance from forward Peter Oguama, who scored 24 points and grabbed 19 rebounds. Guard Trestyne Nguru added a team-high 28 points and six assists.

Oguama has been a consistent force, averaging a double-double over his last five games. His matchup in the paint will be pivotal against Los Angeles Valley’s Deng Lual, a formidable rebounder who pulled down 13 boards in the Monarchs’ last outing.

Los Angeles Valley (4-4) is coming off a narrow 57-55 home win over Cuesta on Thursday. The Monarchs have shown resilience, winning three of their last four contests after a 1-3 start. Their defense has been a key, holding opponents to an average of 63.5 points during that stretch.

The Monarchs hold a slight edge in overall record and will have home-court advantage. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Los Angeles Valley is projected as a significant favorite with a 72.5% probability to win.

For Barstow, replicating its recent offensive explosion will be a challenge against a sturdy Monarchs defense. The Vikings will also need to find scoring support beyond Oguama and Nguru to improve their road record, which currently stands at 2-5.

The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tipoff on Friday, Dec. 12, at Los Angeles Valley College. Following this contest, Barstow will travel to face Imperial Valley on Monday, while Los Angeles Valley hosts Cypress on Wednesday.