Basketball Game Preview: Valencia Tigers vs. Segerstrom Jaguars

A feisty cat fight is on tap when the Valencia Tigers challenge the Segerstrom Jaguars at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday... Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, the two teams will really light up the scoreboard.

Valencia is probably headed into the matchup with a chip on their shoulder considering Buena Park just ended the team's four-game winning streak on Tuesday. They took a hard 75-60 fall against the Coyotes. While losing is never fun, the Tigers can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' California basketball rankings (they are ranked 214th, while the Coyotes are ranked 81st).

Meanwhile, Segerstrom made easy work of Calvary Chapel on Tuesday and carried off a 71-49 win. The Jaguars have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won ten games by 20 points or more this season.

Valencia's loss ended an eight-game streak of wins at home dating back to last season and dropped them to 18-6. As for Segerstrom, they have been performing well recently as they've won ten of their last 13 contests, which provided a nice bump to their 18-6 record this season.

Valencia didn't have too much breathing room in their match against Segerstrom in their previous meeting two weeks ago, but they still walked away with a 58-54 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for Valencia since the team won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.