Hoover at Steele Canyon — Girls basketball preview (Jan. 2, 2026)

Steele Canyon HS -

Hoover Cardinals travel to Steele Canyon Cougars at Steele Canyon High on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. Tipoff is 7 p.m. PT at Steele Canyon HS in Spring Valley, Calif. — catch full game coverage and updates on the SBLive game page: https://scorebooklive.com/california/girls-basketball/games/5822550-hoover-vs-steele-canyon

Game links and teams

• Game page: https://scorebooklive.com/california/girls-basketball/games/5822550-hoover-vs-steele-canyon

• Steele Canyon Cougars: https://scorebooklive.com/california/girls-basketball/teams/42358-steele-canyon-cougars

• Hoover Cardinals: https://scorebooklive.com/california/girls-basketball/teams/159974-hoover-cardinals

What to watch

• Last meeting: The teams last met on Jan. 10, 2024, a 50-46 victory for Steele Canyon (box score and recap): https://scorebooklive.com/california/girls-basketball/games/3734121-hoover-vs-steele-canyon

• Upcoming schedule notes: Steele Canyon returns to action at La Jolla on Jan. 3 (https://scorebooklive.com/california/girls-basketball/games/5469470-steele-canyon-vs-la-jolla). Hoover hosts Madison on Jan. 9 (https://scorebooklive.com/california/girls-basketball/games/5723318-madison-vs-hoover).

• Weather: The game is in Spring Valley, Calif.; check local forecasts before heading out.

Streaming

• Steele Canyon NFHS Network page: https://nfhsnetwork.com/schools/steele-canyon-high-school-spring-valley-ca/basketball?referrer_name=scorebooklive&utm_campaign=scorebooklive&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=scorebooklive

• Hoover NFHS Network page: https://nfhsnetwork.com/schools/herbert-hoover-high-school-san-diego-san-diego-ca/basketball?referrer_name=scorebooklive&utm_campaign=scorebooklive&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=scorebooklive

Fan engagement (SBLive)

• Current SBLive fans: Hoover — 1, Steele Canyon — 0. Picks on the game page currently: 0 for each team. These numbers can change — follow the teams on SBLive to increase fan counts and make picks for the team you want to see win. Picks are for fun fan engagement and are not tied to any win projections.

Why this matters

This nonleague meeting gives both programs a midseason measuring stick in San Diego-area girls basketball. Steele Canyon holds the edge from the last matchup, but early-season games can swing quickly — tune in on Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. PT and follow the SBLive game page for live updates and postgame coverage: https://scorebooklive.com/california/girls-basketball/games/5822550-hoover-vs-steele-canyon