After defeating Caruthers for the second time in two weeks, the boys basketball team secured the West Sequoia League title, Feb. 10. The boys last won an outright WSL title in 2002 and were co-champions of the WSL in 2003 with Fowler. However, last year the team shrugged off a mediocre league season and won the CIF Central Section Division V championship at Selland Arena.
This year the 2012 Eagles needed overtime to defeat the Blue Raiders, 59-56, at home in front of a packed house in arguably the most exciting game played on campus in the last 10 years. In fact, the last time an Eagle team won the WSL was the 2002 Eagles, which coincidentally had coach Josh Justin (second from far right) playing for them.
FC was led by its seniors Cooper Belmont (22 points) and Ryan Neufeld (21 points). Belmont added 3 rebounds, 2 steals and a blocked shot, but it was Neufeld who seemed to rise above those around him on this night. He pulled down 10 rebounds and had 3 steals, but it was the charge he took as time was running out, which cancelled a 3-point Blue Raider shot that may have sealed a Caruthers win. Instead, FC powered back on offense to tie the game before the buzzer ended regulation time.
FC won the CIF Central Section Division V championship twice before 2011: former FC math teacher Ericlee Gilmore captained the 1992 squad and beat Strathmore; the 1997 champions beat Immanuel, 47-43, and were led by Ben Williams, Adam Lee and Scott Foust.
And one other boys team made it to the finals. The 1991 Eagles played Immanuel for the championship, but the ‘other’ Eagles defeated FC, 59-58. This team had former Eagle teacher and now FC Board member Christopher Schultz on the squad. However, this squad holds the Eagle overall win/loss record at 24-3. The team lost to Fowler in the regular season, Immanuel in the Valley Championship and to Brentwood Prep. in the State playoffs. The 2012 team could very well break those records.
