NAPA VALLEY STORM AT MERRITT THUNDERBIRDS

OAKLAND, Calif. (Interstat) — Two California community college men’s basketball teams seeking momentum will meet Tuesday when the Merritt Thunderbirds host the Napa Valley Storm.

The non-conference matchup at Merritt College features teams with contrasting recent fortunes. The Thunderbirds (7-8 overall) have split their last four games, most recently falling 81-68 at Contra Costa this past Friday. Prior to that, Merritt secured a 71-67 home victory over Butte on Dec. 30.

The Storm (4-10) enter on a three-game skid, including a 102-76 home loss to Los Medanos last Friday. Napa Valley has struggled defensively during the stretch, allowing an average of 91.7 points per game in those losses.

Merritt’s season has been marked by volatility, with a notable 85-65 win over Sacramento City on Dec. 6 followed by a 48-point output in a loss to San Jose. The Thunderbirds are 4-3 at home this season.

Napa Valley’s victories have been sporadic, with its last win a 79-59 decision over Hartnell on Dec. 9. The Storm have found road games particularly challenging, owning a 1-6 record away from home. Their sole road win came in an 83-81 nail-biter at Ohlone on Nov. 22.

Key for Merritt will be containing Napa Valley’s offense and capitalizing on home court. The Storm will aim to tighten their defense and find consistency beyond the arc to snap their losing streak.

This game serves as a standalone contest before both teams dive deeper into their regional schedules later in the week. The two programs are scheduled for a rematch in Napa on Wednesday, Feb. 4.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. PST on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026.