Preview: Desert Roadrunners at Chaffey Panthers

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. (Interstat) — A month after an overtime thriller, the Desert and Chaffey men’s junior college basketball teams will renew their rivalry Friday night when the Roadrunners visit the Panthers.

The California community college matchup at Chaffey College tips off at 7 p.m. on Feb. 20, 2026.

Chaffey (14-12) enters with momentum, having won four of its last five games, including a 92-78 road victory over Copper Mountain on Feb. 14. The Panthers, who sit at .500 in conference play, boast a more balanced and successful season than their upcoming opponent.

Desert (6-18) snapped a four-game skid with a high-scoring 118-108 home win against Palo Verde on Feb. 14. That victory, however, is an outlier in a difficult season marked by defensive struggles.

The Jan. 21 meeting between these teams provides the backdrop. Chaffey escaped Desert with a 92-87 overtime win, a result the Roadrunners will use as motivation for the rematch.

A key matchup will feature two of the region’s top guards. Desert’s De’miem King is a workhorse, averaging 39 minutes per game over his last five contests. He posted 29 points, 11 rebounds and four assists in the recent win over Palo Verde and has recorded a double-double in three of his last four outings.

Chaffey counters with Avery Garcia, a dynamic playmaker coming off a 20-point, nine-assist performance in a win over Barstow on Feb. 11. Garcia’s facilitation and scoring punch have been central to the Panthers’ recent surge.

For Desert to pull off the road upset, they will need another monumental effort from King and support from teammates like Jayse Creavalle, who notched a triple-double (13 points, 11 rebounds, 12 assists) in the Feb. 14 win. Containing Garcia and improving team defense will be critical.

Chaffey aims to protect its home court and solidify its standing, leveraging its superior record and the confidence from the prior head-to-head victory. The Panthers’ ability to control the tempo and exploit Desert’s season-long inconsistencies will likely dictate the outcome.