Basketball Game Preview: Pacific Ridge Firebirds vs. Chula Vista Spartans

The Pacific Ridge Firebirds will take on the Chula Vista Spartans at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. Each of these teams will be fighting to keep a win streak alive as Pacific Ridge comes in on four and Chula Vista on six.

Pacific Ridge is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Tuesday. They escaped with a win against O'Farrell Charter by the margin of a single free throw, 45-44. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Firebirds have posted since November 20, 2024.

Meanwhile, you're bound to get a positive result if you outscore your opponent every quarter and that's exactly how it played out for Chula Vista on Tuesday. They put the hurt on Escondido with a sharp 68-46 victory. The Spartans have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won nine matchups by 22 points or more this season.

Chula Vista's win came from a few key players Pacific Ridge will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Elijah Gillespie, who posted 20 points. Another player making a difference was Gabriel Ruiz, who earned 18 points.

Pacific Ridge pushed their record up to 27-2 with the win, which was their 16th straight at home. The wins came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 59.6 points over those games. As for Chula Vista, their victory bumped their record up to 23-6.

Pacific Ridge beat Chula Vista 49-39 in their previous matchup back in December of 2018. Will Pacific Ridge repeat their success, or does Chula Vista have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.