The latest high school basketball matchup drawing attention across Marin County features a familiar rivalry between Novato High and San Rafael High.
With contrasting momentum, recent history, and plenty on the line, Tuesday night’s game at Novato gives us a real sense of where both programs stand as the season heats up.
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A Rivalry Rooted in Marin County Basketball
For fans from Novato to San Rafael, and down through Petaluma, San Anselmo, and Mill Valley, this matchup is about more than just wins and losses.
Since January 2020, Novato and San Rafael have split their last ten meetings evenly, 5-5. That stat alone says a lot about how competitive this rivalry has stayed, no matter how the seasons have gone for either team.
This week, the Hornets will host the Bulldogs Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. They’re hoping that home-court energy in North Marin can spark a turnaround.
The rivalry history suggests balance, but the current season tells a different story.
The Novato Hornets’ Uphill Battle
Novato heads into the game in a tough spot, stuck on a 21-game losing streak and sitting at 0-14 after a close 55-49 loss to Petaluma.
Even with the struggles, you can’t deny the resilience and effort from individual players. Coaches around Marin County tend to value that just as much as results, if not more.
In Saturday’s loss, Chris Toussaint led the Hornets with 16 points on efficient 5-for-10 shooting. He also added three steals and played well on both ends of the court.
Teammate Padon Coleman filled up the stat sheet with seven points, three steals, and three blocks. Moments like that show flashes of defensive intensity that could matter against San Rafael.
Novato’s challenge is turning those individual sparks into something more consistent as a team. Fans from Ignacio, Hamilton, and all over Novato are hoping this rivalry game can finally be the turning point.
San Rafael Bulldogs Riding Momentum
On the other side, San Rafael comes to Novato with plenty of confidence and momentum. The Bulldogs are on a three-game winning streak and improved to 10-7 after a convincing 62-49 win over St. Vincent de Paul on Monday.
The Bulldogs’ consistency shows up not just on the court but in the statewide rankings too. According to MaxPreps’ California rankings, San Rafael sits at 246th, while Novato’s down at 646th.
That’s a pretty big gap and lines up with what fans in Terra Linda, Sun Valley, and downtown San Rafael have noticed—a team finding its rhythm at just the right time.
A Look Back at January’s Meeting
When these teams last met in January 2025, San Rafael controlled the game and won decisively, 72-48.
That result still stings for the Hornets. Tuesday’s matchup feels like a shot at redemption in front of their own crowd.
San Rafael wants to keep the streak alive. Novato’s hoping to flip the script and remind everyone in Marin County why this rivalry keeps coming back to even ground, year after year.
What to Watch on Tuesday Night
Fans from Larkspur, Corte Madera, and Fairfax are tuning in or heading to the gym. Several factors could shape how this one plays out:
MaxPreps data—filtered through infoSentience—offers a glimpse of what’s coming. Tuesday night in Novato feels like it’ll add a fresh twist to this local rivalry, and honestly, who doesn’t love a little drama between the Bulldogs and Hornets?
Here is the source article for this story: Basketball Game Preview: Novato Hornets vs. San Rafael Bulldogs + How To Watch
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