Palma-St. Mary's hoops

  Rather than use the bye to gear up for the second half of the Gabilan Division season, the Chieftains will face arguably their biggest challenge of the season tonight at perennial SAC Joaquin Section power St. Mary's of Stockton.
 The two teams have had some epic non-league battles the last two years, with Palma prevailing 62-58 last year en route to reaching the State Division IV title game.
 St. Mary's beat the Chieftains 52-45 in 2015, finishing the year with 23 wins, reaching the State Nor Cal Division IV semifinals.
 Coming off its most meaningful win on Wednesday over previously unbeaten Monterey, Palma has run through the Gabilan Division with its average margin of victory being 35 points.
 Reigning Gabilan Division Most Valuable Player Jamaree Bouyea is coming off a 26-point effort while sharpshooter Nikhil Manimaram buried seven 3-point goals against Monterey.
 The Chieftains (15-2) will have their hands full slowing down 6-foot-6 sophomore Bryce Johnson, who leads the Rams in scoring at 15.8 points a game and rebounds at 10.2.
  Look for Cameron Jones and Garrett Maker to draw the assignment on Johnson. Palma, who has won 34 straight Gabilan Division games, is currently riding a 10-game overall winning streak.