Struggling Teams Collide as Siskiyous Visits Merced in Junior College Men’s Basketball

MERCED, Calif. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking to reverse difficult starts to the season will meet Wednesday when the Siskiyous Eagles face the Merced Blue Devils in a California community college men’s basketball matchup.

The Eagles (4-10) travel to Merced College following a 102-74 home loss to Sequoias on Saturday. That defeat was part of a 1-4 stretch over the past two weeks for Siskiyous, with the lone win a 77-63 victory over Hartnell on Dec. 11. The Eagles have allowed 90 or more points in four of their 10 losses this season.

Merced (2-9) also looks to bounce back from a narrow defeat, having fallen 81-74 to Yuba at home on Saturday. The Blue Devils’ season highlights include an 80-79 win over Alameda on Dec. 11 and a 68-63 victory over Gavilan on Nov. 8, but they have consistently struggled to contain opponents, yielding an average of nearly 80 points per game.

A player to watch for Siskiyous is Eli Bryant. The guard produced 8 rebounds in 18 minutes during a loss at Reedley on Dec. 5, though he was limited to just one minute in the most recent contest against Sequoias. His performance may be a factor as the Eagles search for consistency.

Despite both teams’ defensive challenges, the Interstat game simulator projects a high-scoring and even affair, predicting a 100-100 final score. Such an outcome would represent a significant offensive outburst for both squads.

Wednesday’s contest is the final game before the holiday break for each program. Siskiyous will next play at San Mateo on Dec. 30, while Merced is scheduled to visit Canada College on Dec. 20.

Tipoff is set for Wednesday night at Merced College.