INLAND FIELDHOUSE

THE DETAILS:
Temecula Rancho Christian vs. MoVal Rancho Verde
Centennial Battle Zone Tournament
At Corona (Calif.) Centennial HS
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. PT on Thursday, Nov. 30

TEMECULA RANCHO CHRISTIAN (3-0 overall, 0-0 South Valley League) has a budding reputation as one of the best teams in Riverside County, and this season might be a pinnacle of sorts as brothers Isaiah and Evan Mobley continue upon their development paths toward apparent collegiate basketball careers. Senior shooting guards K.J. Redfield and Isaiah Knox provide the team with elite-level depth in its attack as sophomore point guard Jordan Montgomery builds his game alongside two of the best young big men in Southern California. So much talent is a problem any coach loves to have, so eyes will go to the bench if expectations aren’t met this season.
HEAD COACH: Ray Barefield

MOVAL RANCHO VERDE (1-1 overall, 0-0 Inland Valley League) started its season on Monday, Nov. 27 with a convincing 76-51 win over San Bernardino HS but were beat by Chino Hills on Wednesday night, 55-33, and face another tough opponent at the Battlezone. We’ll look to see how this team responds to a back-to-back nights situation as an indicator of toughness and mindset. Guessing the Mustangs score somewhere between 76 and 33 points as senior guard Jaison Forte asserts himself. The team will likely be without junior guard Jaxen Turner, who is preparing to play for the football team in the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 championship game this weekend.
HEAD COACH: Brandon Baker

THE KEY PLAYERS:
Rancho Christian — G Jordan Montgomery, Soph. (6-foot-1); SG Isaiah Knox, Sr. (6-foot-3); SG K.J. Redfield, Sr. (6-foot-3); PG/PF Isaiah MOnley, Jr. (6-foot-9); Evan Mobley, Soph. (6-foot-10)

Rancho Verde — G Rafael Bailey-Gutierrez, Sr. (5-foot-10, 160 pounds); G Jaison Forte, Sr. (6-4, 185); G Jacob Smith, Sr. (6-1, 160); F Sadiq Muhammad, Sr. (6-4, 180); PF Anthony Thomas, Jr. (6-5, 210)

THE DIFFERENCE:
The Mobley Bros.; It’s hard enough to account for one skilled guy over 6-9 when you can’t match.

THE PREDICTION:
Rancho Christian 81, Rancho Verde 58