BOYS’ BASKETBALL SPORTS SHORTS, 2009-10, Part II–
The boys’ basketball sport shorts are divided into two parts. Go to the Boys’ basketball sport shorts, 2009-10, Part I, for games ending December 2009.
(Latest boys’ basketball shorts will be at the top of the section. Scroll down to check out past results. Tournament games do not count toward win/loss record. Visit the Sports Section for boys’ basketball features)
Be sure to visit the 2009-10 boys’ basketball schedule and the Eagles’ home page or FC’s roster page, or check out Maxpreps.com. FC is currently 16-12 overall, and 6-2 in the West Sequoia League.
BOYS’ BASKETBALL, 2009-10
SEASON END
CIF CENTRAL SECTION DIVISION V PLAYOFFS–Feb. 26
MISSION PREP OUTPLAYS FC–March 2
Despite playing Mission Prep near even through a quarter-and-a-half of play, FC faltered in the second half, as the Royals prevailed 53-33, March 2. The Eagles’ season ends in San Luis Obispo in the semi-finals of the CIF Central Section Division V playoffs.
“We played hard tonight, it wasn’t for a lack of effort,” head coach Chris Schutlz said. “Our youth hurt us tonight, both in experience and strength. But I can’t fault the guys for trying, we did what we could.”
Sophomore Cooper Belmont scored 9 points for FC, senior Landon Martens 8, and sophomore Jeremiah Brown finished with 8.
“I felt like I did good but definitely could have done better,” Belmont said. “We didn’t have enough offense to come out on top. We played well in the first half, but in the second Mission Prep really disrupted our game plan by double teaming Jeremiah and (freshman) David (Wells).”
The Eagles were within 2 points of the lead (22-20) with 4 minutes remaining in the half, but the Royals caused 3 turnovers at the end of the quarter and pulled away from the Eagles. At the half Mission Prep held a 31-21 advantage.
FC was unable to make significant changes in the second half, and the Royals used their height advantage to finish off the visitors by the end of the third quarter. With a 20-point lead going into the fourth, Mission Prep coasted to the easy win.
“This game doesn’t take away from the rest of the season and what this team accomplished,” Schutlz said. “This senior class can take credit for having re-established the boys program as being successful and competitive. They have also set the standard for what it means to work hard and be committed, no matter what the outcome. I’m proud of them and appreciate their attitudes and efforts.”
The Eagles finished the season at 16-12 overall including 6-2 in the West Sequoia. They conclude the program’s first winning season in five seasons and captured 2nd place in the West Sequoia League behind Caruthers.
CIF CENTRAL SECTION DIVISION V PLAYOFFS CONTINUE–March 2
After finishing their regular season 16-11 overall record and 6-2 in the West Sequoia League, FC earned a No. 3 seed for the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Central Section Division V Semifinals. After beating Riverdale Christian, they will next travel to San Luis Obispo and play Mission Prep, March 2 at 7 p.m. in the semi-finals. Tickets can be purchased at the door: As this is a CIF playoff game and ALL ENTRANTS MUST PAY. The prices are: Adults – $5; Students – $4 and Seniors (65+) – $3.
The finals for the section will be at Selland Arena, March 5 at 4 p.m.
EAGLES STAY ALIVE IN PLAYOFFS–Feb. 25
After falling behind early in their quarterfinal game, the Eagles secured a 58-50 win over Riverdale Christian , Feb. 25; the program’s first playoff victory since 2003.
“This was a classic playoff game with two teams fighting to stay alive,” head coach Chris Schultz said. “Riverdale Christian played extremely hard and kept themselves in the game by fighting and making things happen. We didn’t have the same effort, but we didn’t lose our cool and were able to make plays down the stretch to keep playing. At this time of the year, that’s all that matters is to keep playing.”
Sophomore Brady Lee felt the pressure of his first varsity playoff game.
“It was a nerve-racking game,” Lee said. “The score was going back and forth and I was constantly glancing up at the scoreboard to see who was ahead.”
Senior Landon Martens led the way with 16 points, sophomore Jeremiah Brown scored 15, and sophomore Cooper Belmont and freshman David Wells scored 13 apiece.
“Landon took over the game and made plays for us,” Schultz said. “He made some tough shots with guys all over him and he made them when the game mattered the most. I wish he would play that way all game long, he’d score thirty. As it is, we’ll take the 16 and the win.”
The visiting Christ-Ambassadors jumped out to an 18-15 first quarter lead, but the Eagles battled to gain a 33-30 lead by half-time. The Eagles shot only 16 of 31 from the free-throw line for the game, wasting scoring opportunities.
Despite leading the team in scoring, Martens was disappointed in his free-throw shooting.
“Personally I felt that I didn’t do great shooting-wise,” Martens said. “I split almost all of my free-throws and only hit one three-pointer. Thanks to Jeremiah, Cooper and David, who also contributed double digits, we won our first playoff game in seven years.”
RC confused FC with a match-up zone that the Eagles had no answer for in the first half.
“Their zone frustrated us,” Schultz said. “They matched up and we were unable to get the kind of looks we thought we could. In the second half, we made some adjustments and we did a decent job of attacking their defense and getting some easy looks. But for most of the night we didn’t move the ball or pass effectively.”
After making offensive adjustments at the half, the Eagles went on to win the second-half battle and earn the right to advance to play Mission Prep in a CIF Division V Semifinal match-up.
The Prep game will be played at Mission Prep in San Luis Obispo, March 2 at 7 p.m.
BROWN, EAGLES OVERPOWER PANTHERS–Feb. 19
Sophomore Jeremiah Brown scored 31 points and the Eagles concluded regular season play with a 70-56 victory over Parlier, Feb. 19.
“Jeremiah played tonight like the MVP he has been throughout this league,” head coach Chris Schultz said. “I really like how he put himself in a position to catch and shoot instead of having to put the ball on the floor. He continues to play extremely well, and we are able to run our offense through him almost every trip down the court.”
Brown became the first Eagle this season to break the 30 point barrier. Because of a bet, the accomplishment earned the Eagles’ center dinner from assistant coach Josh Justin. The last FC player to score 30 or more was Ronnie Giannetta (’08) who dropped 32 points on Mendota, Feb. 1, 2008.
“My teammates got me the ball in good position at the block and at the short corner,” Brown said. “I was able to make good baseline moves to the rim. My choice of dinner is pizza and a 40 ounce chocolate moo’d (Jamba Juice). I plan on splitting up the drink 20 ounces at a time to spread the calories around.”
Pumped up for their Senior Night and final game of the season, Parlier jumped out to a 19-16 first quarter lead. They frustrated FC by making shot after shot from well beyond the three-point arc and driving into the key for short-range jumpers.
However the Eagles went on the outscore the Panthers for three quarters in a row (17-13, 20-11, 17-13) to shut down their hopes of an upset. FC’s defensive intensity increased in the second half according to Schultz.
“Our defensive effort improved in the second half and made it difficult for them to do much of anything,” Schultz said.” We forced them into tough shots, didn’t allow second opportunities, and were able to get out and run for some easy baskets. That ended up being the difference in the game.”
Freshman David Wells scored 16 points for the Eagles to go along with 9 rebounds, and senior Landon Martens provided a steady 13 points. In the final game of his high school career, senior Richie Velasco went off for 29 points for the Panthers.
After finishing the regular season with the school’s first winning record in six years, FC will advance to the CIF Central Section Division V playoffs. Schultz is making his first appearance in the playoffs since returning from Westmont College to coach the Eagles in 2006.
“To have come so far in the past three years and now have a chance to go into the playoffs with a real shot to get to the valley finals I think it is quite an accomplishment,” Schultz said. I’ve seen these guys play at a very high level, and I told them how I proud I was of them and what an honor it is to coach them.”
FC is currently 15-11 overall, and 6-2 in the West Sequoia League as of Feb. 19. The Eagles will next host a quarter-final CIF Division V Central Section playoff game against Riverdale Christian, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m.
EAGLES STIFLE FOWLER–Feb. 16
Following a devastating loss to Caruthers on senior night, Feb. 12, the Eagles bounced back for a 77-60 win over Fowler, Feb. 16.
“This was a good win for us on the road after a tough loss,” head coach Chris Schultz said. “I’m proud of the way we played consistently for the most part. We attacked through the post like we said we wanted to, didn’t give up offensive rebounds, and controlled most of the game.”
Sophomores Jeremiah Brown and Brady Lee had big games for the Eagles according to Schultz. Brown finished with a game-high 26 points, while Lee had 4 points, 8 assists, 5 steals and also won The Chair defensive award for FC.
“Brady and Jeremiah played another solid game,” Schultz said. “As sophomores, they continue to play big minutes for us and are a major reason for our success. Whether it’s Brady on the outside or Jeremiah on the inside, both of them are playing beyond their years right now.”
FC jumped out to an early 20-12 first quarter lead and went on to outscore the Redcats 17-11 in the second. Fowler had no answer for Brown in the low post, and the Eagles exploited the home team in the post.
Freshman forward David Wells scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, senior Landon Martens netted 11 points and sophomore Cooper Belmont added 11.
“I was able to use my height at the wing position to attack the rim,” Wells said. “We were very aggressive tonight and because of our size, we had the advantage the entire game.”
Wells and Martens took the smaller Fowler guards to the rim in the Eagles attacking ram offense.
“Landon set a good tone for us by being aggressive with the ball and being physical on defense,” Schultz said. “His stats don’t scream out to you, but he does so many other things that help us as a team and while he has sacrificed his scoring so that our bigs can dominate. We need him on the floor setting the tone with his physical play.”
The Eagles put pressure on the Redcats defense by shooting 28 of 44 from the field and hitting 19 of 26 free-throws.
FC is currently 14-11 overall, and 5-2 in the West Sequoia League as of Feb. 16. The Eagles will next play at Parlier on the Panthers’ senior night, Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m.
“Last time we played Parlier, we took them for granted and only won by 9 points,” senior Spencer Lee said. “I think we’re going to come out on fire this time and really get after it from the get-go. We will look to end Parlier’s season by blowing them out just like they did to us last year on our senior night.”
BLUE RAIDERS DEFEAT EAGLES–Feb. 12
Behind the play-making abilities of sophomores Gurdial Singh and Jesus Magana, Caruthers beat FC, 57-53, in front of the biggest home crowd of the Eagles’ season (Senior Night), Feb. 12.
Singh consistently beat the Eagles off the dribble and scored 17 points, while Magana added 15. Both players finished with totals above their season averages.
“Singh and Magana killed us tonight,” head coach Chris Schultz said. “We knew that Jesus was athletic enough to make plays and we were trying to slow him down but Singh really made some tough shots and out muscled and outplayed us tonight. When the game was on the line, they made the plays they needed to win the game.”
For the Eagles, sophomore Jeremiah Brown scored a game-high 28 to go along with 12 rebounds.
The seniors honored for the team included Landon Martens, Spencer Lee, Andrew McCormick and Tyler Revis. While his classmates all started the game, Revis watched the team’s final regular season home contest from the bench due to shoulder surgery.
“It was really hard to watch,” Revis said. “I’m proud of how hard the team played and how far the program has come. Taking second wasn’t our original goal but it still is an honor and I know this game has prepared us for playoff. Overall it was a tough loss but we’re gonna respond well.”
The loss to the Blue Raiders means FC no longer has a shot at a West Sequoia League Championship. However the team still holds hope of winning their final two games of the season and capturing a No. 2 seed in the Central Section Division V playoffs.
“We have to move on,” Schultz said. “Caruthers is going to win the league championship and our hats are off to them. Now we have to focus on capturing 2nd place and see if we can get the two seed in the playoffs. That means we have put this loss behind us and get ready to play on the road as a team and with great effort and execution.”
Should the Eagles win their final two games, it would be the school’s best finish in the league since the 2002-’03 season in which they earned a Co-League championship.
The Eagles will next play at Fowler, Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m.
“We have a lot ahead of us,” Brown said. “We need to pull out wins in each of the next two games and earn home playoff games. Especially against Fowler, we need to play really aggressively and attack to the rim because they like to foul alot.”
SENIOR NIGHT RECOGNIZES LEADERS–Feb. 12
After leading their respective teams throughout the season, the seniors of the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams will be recognized, Feb. 12. Each senior will be given a rose, a framed picture and an introduction including athletic highlights and college aspirations.
FC HOLDS OFF TRANQUILLITY–Feb. 9
FC pounded the ball into the post and let their big men go to work against Tranquillity. Sophomore Jeremiah Brown dropped 28, and the Eagles rolled over the Tigers, 67-47, Feb. 9.
The Eagles, who lost 79-73 to the Tigers, Jan. 22, held Tranquillity to 32 less points than last time. They also benefitted from the presence of head coach Chris Schultz, who missed the previous Tranquillity game due to work.
“Our goal was to play with defensive intensity and make it more difficult for Tranquillity to score and we did that tonight,” Schultz said. “To give up 32 less points than last time means we gave the right kind of effort and executed what we planned to do. I like the way we defended the paint today and we adjusted in the second half to not give up a lot of second chances.”
Freshman David Wells scored 12 points and 8 rebounds, while sophomore Cooper Belmont added 11 points. Sophomore point guard Brady Lee had a good all-around game, according to Schultz, producing 4 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and took a charge.
“We asked Brady to play the whole game tonight and with the exception of a couple of seconds, he did,” Schultz said. “His stats were outstanding and he made plays on both sides of the floor. I was most excited about his charge because we talked about him taking one. He was a stud out there tonight.”
FC routinely beat the Tigers down the court in transition, leading to lay-ups or offensive rebound opportunities. The Eagles also shot 58% (29-50) from the field, and got several strong finishes from Brown down at the low block. FC effectively executed their strategy of running their offense through the post.
“We knew we had an advantage in the paint and we exploited that,” Schultz said. “Jerry was dominate at the block again. He created a lot of contact but was still able to muscle the ball to the hole. And he played much more aggressively on the defensive end of the floor.”
The Eagles will next look to take down a 16-2 Caruthers squad which has won their last 12 games including a 54-53 win over FC, Jan. 26.
FC will next host the Blue-Raiders on Senior Night, Feb. 12.
EAGLES WIN THIRD STRAIGHT–Feb. 5
Behind the scoring of senior Landon Martens and sophomore Jeremiah Brown, FC finished off Riverdale for a 72-59 victory, Feb. 5.
Martens’ season-high total lead all scorers and came on his 18th birthday. For Riverdale, senior Jesus Cabello led the way with 26 points.
“Landon was so aggressive tonight, he saw opportunities and he took them,” head coach Chris Schultz said. “We joked after the game that from now on its his birthday every game night from now until the season ends. His play and effort really made the difference tonight.”
FC once again gained a first quarter lead of 21-15, then outscored Riverdale, 13-10, in the second to take a 9-point advantage into the half. In the locker room, Schultz stressed the need to take better care of the ball, and the Eagles would respond in the second half.
After turning the ball over 11 times in the first half, FC had just 6 turnovers in the second. However, the Cowboys stayed within striking distance due to their 17 offensive rebounds.
The Eagles took advantage of one of the Cowboys’ main weaknesses: transition defense.
We were very effective in our offensive sets and transition,” Schultz said. “To shoot 64% and get the kind of looks we did was impressive.
Senior Spencer Lee held Cowboys’ senior leading scorer Tim “Violence” Brown to a season-low 5 points on 0-7 shooting from beyond the three-point arc.
“Spencer continues to play defense with such intensity and desire that I’m not even surprised by the results,” Schultz said. “He’s taken on the challenge of every great player on the opposing team, and made it his duty to make sure they are well below their average. We said in the team meeting today that his presence on this team is the reason we have a chance to compete for the title.”
Lee’s performance also helped him win a bet with assistant coach Josh Justin.
“Josh said if I held either Violence (Brown) or (Caruthers senior) Dilpreet (Thind) to 5 or less points he would take me out to dinner wherever I wanted to go,” Lee said. “Looks like we’re gonna go get some surf and turf next weekend.”
Despite the three-straight wins, some serious business looms ahead for Schultz and the Eagles. FC will host two of the best local Division V teams, Tranquillity and Caruthers, in back-to-back home games next week. The outcomes will have a major impact on playoff seedings and the Caruthers game may determine whether or not FC wins a West Sequoia League Championship.
“Next week is going to be fun; we’ve got an opportunity to put ourselves in a position for the playoffs as well as the League Title,” Schultz said. “We lost to both Tranquillity and Caruthers, and we’re excited to have them coming to our place and get a chance to play them again.”
The Eagles will next host Tranquillity, Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m.
PANTHERS NO MATCH FOR FC–Feb. 2
The Eagles jumped on Parlier early, outscoring the visiting Panthers 16-7 in the first quarter, and hung on for a 49-40 victory, Feb. 2.
Sophomore Jeremiah Brown led FC with 14 points, while senior Landon Martens had 7. Sophomore Cooper Belmont was aggressive on the boards with a team-high 8 rebounds.
“I think shooting outside shots is more my game, but I also like to drive to the hoop,” Belmont said. “Depending on what the other team is doing on defense, I adjust how I attack. Either with a shot or a power move.”
Head coach Chris Schultz was pleased with Belmont’s willingness to attack the rim.
“I liked Cooper’s aggressive nature tonight,” Schultz said. “He was active on the boards and able to attack to the rim. The style and rthym of the game was very much to his liking and he did well.”
Despite the win, Schultz said the Eagles need to work on limiting careless turnovers in transition. FC committed 23 turnovers for the game.
“We were so careless tonight,” Schultz said. “That many turnovers against a team that put little to no pressure on us is just not acceptable. I know we want to get out and run and play aggressive but we also have to make good decisions.”
Martens commented on the high number of turnovers for the game.
“Our turnovers were careless and will not happen again,” Martens said. “The way we played was unacceptable and will definitely result to a loss to any other team in the league.”
The Eagles faced one of the hardest practices of their season the next afternoon in preparation for later games.
“Practice that day had an hour and half of conditioning,” freshman David Wells said. “It helped teach us to move up and down the court to get the easy baskets that we should have gotten.”
The Eagles will next play at Riverdale, Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m.
EAGLES START FAST, BLOW PAST REDCATS–Jan. 29
After dropping a close one to Caruthers three days before, the Eagles came out fired up at home verses Fowler. FC jumped out to a 21-1 lead, and held on to win 66-54, Jan. 29.
“We talked about one of our keys was to start fast and finish strong,” head coach Chris Schultz said. “We did that tonight, and the initial run put us ahead with a big lead. Then after they made their push to make it close, we finish them off with big shots and clutch free throws. I’m proud of the how we are learning to close games out.”
Sophomore Jeremiah Brown dropped a game-high 20 points, and senior Landon Martens and freshman David Wells followed with 12 and 10 points respectively. Sophomore Brady Lee dished out 6 assists to lead all players in that category.
“Landon had one of his best all around games for us,” Schultz said. “He rebounded the ball, attacked the basket, didn’t turn the ball over once, and made clutch free throws for us when we needed it. As a senior captain, that is exactly what he needed out of him and he delivered tonight, as he has for most of the season.””
FC attacked Fowler with spot-on shooting from both the field (53%) and the free-throw line (season-high 69%). After making only 10 of 25 free-throws against Caruthers, the Eagles drained 24 of 35 vs. Fowler.
“We started off the game very intensely and were physical with them,” sophomore Chandler Vargas said. “But after we got a big lead we let them back in the game by not defending the three well and giving up offensive rebounds by not hustling.”
Fowler cut the the Eagle lead to 37-25 at the half with aggressive play in the second quarter. But FC held them better in the second half, and made clutch plays down the stretch to close out the game.
The Eagles were able to penetrate to the hoop on fast-break opportunities, and got power lay-ups from Brown and sophomore Cooper Belmont.
“This is a good style for Cooper,” Schultz said. “He is very effective in a full court transition game, and very smooth to the basket. He can make some very athletic plays and is stroking the ball well right now.”
Belmont said the game was one of his best of the season in terms of intensity and all-around play.
“I brought more intensity than I usually do,” Belmont said. “I played that way because Fowler is our big rival and I dislike them very much. I know that I have to keep the intensity up for the rest of the season if we want to win a league championship.”
FC will next look to run all over a 1-15 Parlier squad whom they beat 55-46, Dec. 12.
“We need to focus on what’s ahead of us against Parlier,” Vargas said. “Our team need to win to continue along our journey towards a league championship.”
The Eagles will host Parlier, Feb. 2, 7:30 p.m.
CARUTHERS EDGES FC 54-53–Jan. 26
In a down-to-the-wire thriller, the Blue Raiders defeated the Eagles 54-53 in front of a packed Caruthers gym, Jan. 26.
The Eagles stayed right with Caruthers in the first quarter, and outscored the home team 17-16 behind the power play of sophomore center Jeremiah Brown. Brown led all scorers with 23 points for the game.
“I told Jeremiah that he needed to be more aggressive to the rim and get to the free throw line at least 8 times,” head coach Chris Schultz said. “He listened and made a great effort to create points for us.”
Caruthers bounced back in the second quarter outscoring FC 11-8. Despite getting 0 points in the first half from senior leading scorer Dilpreet Thind, the Blue Raiders held a 27-25 lead. Currently, Thind is the No. 2 ranked three-point shooter in the nation averaging 4.8 three’s per game.
Prior to the game, the Caruthers forward was ranked No. 1 nationally (at 5.2 per game), but he made only one three for the game, and dropped to second in the category.
“We really made it difficult for them on the defensive end,” Schultz said. “Thind was never able to find a rhythm the entire game. (Senior) Spencer (Lee) did an outstanding job of frustrating him and forcing other guys to make plays. He got a couple of looks but most of his shots were contested.”
By the third quarter, the game was a dog fight, with each team battling every play like it was the game’s last. Caruthers finally found their stride against FC’s box-and-one defense, outscoring them 19-16.
Lee matched up with Thind one-on-one in the box-and-one.
“Dilpreet is one of the best players I’ve seen all season,” Lee said. “What makes him so tough is the fact that he sprints on all his cuts and is excellent at getting open for shots. If you give him even an inch of space, he’s going to drain a three in your face. And you can’t foul him either because he’s shooting close to ninety percent from the line.”
But the tide would turn in the fourth quarter. The Eagles began battling back early in the quarter behind 5 points from senior Landon Martens. Then with under a minute left and FC down by 4, sophomore Cooper Belmont hit one of the most important shots of the season to this point.
Belmont moved to the left side of the court against the Caruthers 2-3 zone defense, got a ball reversal and his 3-point attempt hit nothing but net to get the Eagles within 1 with 40 seconds to play in the game.
After a turnover by both teams, and a missed free throw on the front end of a 1-in-1 by Caruthers senior Andrew Davila, FC had the ball under their own basket with 9 seconds to play. During a timeout, head coach Chris Schultz drew up a play for the ball to go to sophomore guard Chandler Vargas with an option for him to kick to Martens.
The Eagles in-bounded the ball to Vargas who proceeded to beat the Blue Raiders press all by himself and get the ball to Martens. Martens fired a three from the right corner at the buzzer which rattled off the rim as the Caruthers stands exploded.
For the game, FC shot only 10 of 25 from the free-throw line, while the Blue Raiders sank 19 of 25. With the win, Caruthers improved to 13-2, 3-0 overall and the Eagles dropped to 9-10, 1-1.
“This was a tough game to lose,” Schultz said. “To play like we did and put ourselves in a position to win and then to come up inches short is heartbreaking. But it was a great game to participate in and we know that we’re good enough to compete against anyone in league.”
The Eagles will next host Fowler, Jan. 29, 7:30 p.m.
FRESNO BEE RANKS BOYS NO. 3 IN DIVISION V
The boys’ varsity basketball team is currently ranked in the top three in the CIF Central Section Division V. The boys are ranked No. 3 in Division V, according to the Fresno Bee, Jan. 26. This week The Bee has Central Valley Christian (CVC) of Visalia No. 1. Tranquillity is seeded No. 2.
TRANQUILLITY WINS TIGHT BATTLE–Jan. 22
Tranquillity took advantage of a high-scoring ball game, defeating FC, 79-73, Jan. 22. FC was without head coach Chris Schultz who was forced to miss the game due to work, and handed the reins to assistant coach Josh Justin.
Despite scoring a season-high point total, the Eagles allowed more points than they have all season.
“We executed extremely well on offense, but we were unable to stop them on defense,” Justin said. “Tranquillity destroyed us on the boards. This led to way too many 2nd chance points and significantly contributed to us losing the game.”
Sophomore Jeremiah Brown scored a season-high 27 points for the Eagles, freshman David Wells had 16, and senior Landon Martens added 15. For Tranquillity, senior Jullian Florez dropped 24 points, while senior Nico Ezernack netted 18.
Though failing to get off to the fast start they talked about in the locker-room, the Eagles grabbed an 18-15 lead after the first quarter. But the second quarter belonged the to Tigers.
Tranquillity outscored FC 24-20 to forge a slim 39-38 lead at the half. FC came out strong in the third quarter, playing the home team even until the very end of the quarter.
“Playing defense was pretty tough for us tonight,” sophomore Brady Lee said. “Their guards were very quick and it was tough to stay in front of them. We need to do a better job of moving our feet and staying in front of people.”
With 3 seconds to go in the third, Tranquillity got a steal and made a three-pointer at the buzzer to take a 60-57 lead into the fourth quarter. From that point on, the Tigers closed out FC with tenacious drives to the goal and solid free-throw shooting.
“Friday night the boys battled the entire game but in the end came up a little short,” Justin said. “Friday’s loss was a tough one, but will bounce back and be ready to go Tuesday against Caruthers.”
The Eagles will next play at Caruthers, Jan. 26, 7 p.m.
“In order to beat Caruthers we have to execute plays and really limit turnovers,” Martens said. “One of the main things that they do well is create turnovers for their opponents. If we can take care of the ball and limit our turnovers we will win the game.”
EAGLES DOMINATE FIRST QUARTER VS. RIVERDALE–Jan. 19
Behind another quick start, FC built up a big lead and beat the Riverdale Cowboys, 69-57, in their West Sequoia League opener, Jan. 19.
“You want to see signs of improvement and progress,” head coach Chris Schultz said. “For most of the year we have started games slow and been in a hole early. But the past two games have seen us come racing out of the blocks and gaining huge leads early on. In both cases, we were able to sustain our lead throughout the game and eventually put them away in the fourth quarter.”
Senior Landon Martens had a game-high 19 points, freshman David Wells netted 15, and sophomore Jeremiah Brown added 13. Sophomore Brady Lee dished out 9 assists, while turning the ball over only twice.
“Brady was outstanding today,” Schultz said. “A 9-2 assist to turnover ratio is incredible and just continues to show his maturity and decision making skills. He’s being asked to play alot of minutes right now until (sophomore) Chandler (Vargas) returns and he’s handling it very well.”
The Eagles scored on their first five possessions of the game to to jump out to an 11-2 lead and force a Riverdale timeout. When play resumed, FC scored on the next four possessions and took a 19-2 lead.
During their opening run, Brown had 11 of FC’s first 15 points. Riverdale turned the ball over five times and shot only 1 of 9 from the field in the first quarter. The score at the end of the quarter was FC 25, Riverdale 8.
“We got out to a very quick start,” Wells said. “It was very hard for them to come back from our great start. We kept them off the defensive boards well and got some good fast-breaks. (sophomore) Brady (Lee) did a good job of not turning the ball over, and we were able to score the ball at will.”
However, the Cowboys adjusted their game-plan in the second quarter. They slowed FC’s offensive attack by switching to a 1-2-2 zone defense.
The adjustment helped the visitors go on a 10-3 run and cut the Eagle lead to 28-18 with 4:02 left in the half. FC committed 8 turnovers and shot 3 of 13 from the field. But the home team would bounce back, going on a 10-3 run to close the quarter and re-open a 17 point advantage.
Senior Tim Brown provided the only offense for Riverdale during the run; a running three-pointer from just in front of half-court that banked in at the buzzer. Brown would finish with a team-high 19 points.
FC struggled in the third quarter committing 8 turnovers and shooting 3 of 13 from the field. Riverdale took advantage of the Eagle mistakes to get within 8 points of the lead, at 47-39, with one quarter to play.
Despite their mistakes in the third, FC went on a 10-0 run to start the fourth quarter. They would go on to push the lead to 63-43 – their largest of the game.
“It’s good to get that first league win,” Schultz said. “We haven’t had many league wins over the past few years and so we’ll take this one and get ready for the next one.”
The Eagles will next play at Tranquillity, Jan. 22, 7 p.m.
FC DEFENDS HOME COURT, DROPS MENDOTA 57-40–Jan. 16
The Eagles exploded out of the gates for an early 18-5 first quarter lead, and then went into cruise control for a 57-40 win over Mendota, Jan. 16.
Taking advantage of a tired Mendota team (three games in five days) FC ran all over the visitors early. Steals and quick outlet passes led to transition baskets and all the momentum in the opening quarter.
“We took advantage of the game early,” sophomore Jeremiah Brown said. “We were getting the ball, pushing out, and using our size to our advantage. We were being really aggressive going to the hoop, and getting the ball into the post. We need to keep coming out strong every game if we want to compete for a league championship.”
Senior Landon Martens and Brown led the way with 18 points apiece. Martens scored the majority of his points on attacks to the basket, while Brown dominated the boards and got put-back after put-back on the offensive end.
“Landon has been playing with much more aggressiveness and intensity the past week,” head coach Chris Schultz said. “He’s awakened and we’re a better team because of it. Instead of simply settling for the three, he’s attacking the rim and allowing his athleticism to take over. We’ll need him the rest of the year to stay just like that.”
Ironically, the matchup between the two teams marked one year since Martens’ game-winning layup to beat the Aztecs 58-56, Jan. 16, 2009.
For the majority of the game, the Eagles boxed out the Aztecs on the defensive end and limited offensive rebounds. Freshman David Wells led FC with 20 rebounds while Brown secured 19.
Despite gaining the early lead, FC let Mendota creep back into the ball game in the second and third quarters.
“The same aggressiveness and attacking mentality that got us the big lead also caused some trouble when Mendota adjusted the tempo and began to increase their effort. We got careless and out of control and Mendota got back into the game. It wasn’t until the 4th quarter that we were able to wrestle control back and finish the game.”
The Aztecs slowed the tempo down in the second quarter, and made FC work more on the offensive end. The adjustment helped Mendota get within 15 points of the lead (33-19) by the end of the quarter.
Behind a throng of supporting fans, the Aztecs outscored FC 16-11 in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 10 point. They would get within 8 points of the Eagle lead but no closer.
Following an Eagle timeout, the home team went on to deliver the knockout punches to the weary Aztecs. FC outscored them 13-5 in the final quarter to gain their winning margin.
“We really finished the game strong after coming back from Mendota’s streak,” sophomore Cooper Belmont said. “Coach told us at half-time that we had to continuing being aggressive in order to win the game. Then during a timeout in the second half, coach told us that we were going to win the game as long as we keep playing hard and thats exactly what we did.”
The game marked Mendota’s lowest scoring outing of the season. Senior leading scorer Ignacio Lopez was the only player in double digits with 14.
“We asked (senior) Spencer (Lee) to take on the challenge of guarding Lopez, who had lit up Liberty for 34 earlier in the week, and was outstanding,” Schultz said. “He only scored 3 points in the first half and it was due to Spencer’s effort and desire.”
It is likely the Eagles will get injured sophomore point guard Chandler Vargas (bruised knee) back for their next game against Riverdale. This will relieve some of the ball handling responsibilities of sophomore Brady Lee, and will add much needed depth to the current seven-man rotation.
The Eagles will next host Riverdale, Jan. 19, 7 p.m.
FIREBAUGH’S ESCALANTE OVERPOWERS FC–Jan. 16
On this night, Firebaugh proved to be the stronger team on their home court. The home team dominated the paint in route to a 58-46 victory over FC, Jan. 12.
“We got beat down at the block,” head coach Chris Schultz said. “(Senior Anthony) Escalante was able to use his big body and move our bigs around and create second chance points for Firebaugh. He was really effective in the first half, and while we adjusted and did a better job in the second half the damage was done.”
Escalante had his way at the low block, scoring a game-high 17 points while exploiting FC for offensive rebounds and putbacks. Senior guard Ricky Hurt, who was scoreless in the first half, connected on several three-pointers in the second to finish with 11 points for Firebaugh.
Freshman David Wells (13 points) and senior Landon Martens (12 points) let FC, but the Eagles’ points did not come easily. After taking an early 6-0 lead in the first quarter, FC led Firebaugh take control and gain a 14-10 lead by the end of the quarter.
After Firebaugh outscored FC 15-14 in the second quarter, they took a 29- 24 lead into the locker room. The home squad took control in the third quarter by beating FC 17-10, and the two teams tied the final quarter 12-12.
FC was forced to play a seven-man rotation because of injurys to senior Tyler Revis (shoulder, out for the season), sophomore Chandler Vargas (knee, out for 5-7 days), and junior Seth Ramirez (hamstring, out for the season). The deeper Firebaugh team took advantage of the short-handed FC.
In their “Gaps” offense for most of the game, FC struggled to score against Firebaugh’s tightly packed zone defense. Numerous turnovers in transition also led to uncontested Firebaugh layups.
“Our lack of experience and numbers really showed tonight,” senior Spencer Lee said. “But even though we don’t have that many healthy players there is no excuse for not playing strong and intense. I felt like we let them walk all over us especially in the post. As a senior it is extremely disappointing to lose to a team that I believe we are far superier to.”
Despite the loss, Schultz remained optimistic about the rest of the season.
“We’ve played two very physical and strong teams (Sierra and Firebaugh) and our kids were not quite able to match up,” Schultz said. “The effort was better tonight and I liked the way we competed. The season is a grind and we’re going to have to keep working hard and getting better to prepare for league. If we can get a couple of guys healthy and back to us, it’s going to be a fun run.”
The Eagles will next host Mendota, Jan. 16, 7 p.m.
VISALIA CHRISTIAN (Visalia) FORFEITS–Jan. 8
CHIEFTAINS OUT-HUSTLE FC IN 2010 HOME OPENER–Jan. 5
Sierra High was simply too tough for the Eagles. The Chieftains punched FC in the mouth early, outscoring the Eagles in each quarter for a 71-42 win, Jan. 5.
FC entered the game well-prepared for Sierra’s attack having watched film on their opponent and practicing for their staple “wings-up” offense. Head coach Chris Schultz attributed the loss to his team’s lack of effort.
“I’m very surprised by the lack of effort tonight,” Schultz said. “We had a good practice yesterday, felt prepared for what Sierra was going to do, and knew that we were going to have to play strong and aggressive against them. That we didn’t and instead let them run all over us was shocking to me.”
Senior guard Brandon Bill scored 17 points to lead Sierra, while sophomore teammate Derek Austrum added 15. No Eagles scored in double figures; senior Landon Martens led the team with 9, and three other players scored 8 apiece.
The Chieftains jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the early going. By hustling to loose balls and grabbing multiple offensive rebounds, they secured a 20-10 lead by the end of the first quarter. It did not get much better for the Eagles in the second as they were outscored 15-8 and trailed 35- 18 at halftime.
The second half followed the flow of the first half. Sierra outscored FC 19-13 in the third and 17-11 in the fourth to gain their final margin of victory. Sierra exploited and overpowered the Eagles’ youthful team according to Schultz.
“When you play the style that Sierra did and do it with strength and balance, you going to finish and get more calls to go your way,” Schultz said. “The majority of their shots were on balance and to the rim, and most of our were fading and away from the basket. Some of that is just the difference between fifteen-year-olds and seventeen-year-olds, some of it is that we allowed their physical play to alter the way we wanted to play.”
The Eagles will next host Visalia Christain, Jan. 8, 7 p.m.
TRI-CITY CHRISTIAN HOLIDAY CLASSIC, Dec. 28-30
FC PROVES TOO TOUGH FOR TRI-CITY–Dec. 30
In the final game of both the Tri-City Christian Holiday Classic, FC downed host Tri-City Christian (Vista, CA), 78-55, Dec. 30. The Eagles finished the tournament, 2-2, which was good for 11th place out of the 16-team field.
Sophomore Jeremiah Brown delivered a game-high 24 points and 12 rebounds as FC turned a close game into a second-half blowout. Freshman David Wells added 20 points, while senior Landon Martens finished with 10.
“We got good looks in the post today and Jerry and David finished around the rim,” head coach Chris Schultz said. “Whether it was off of out-of-bounds plays or in transition, we got post touches and went hard to the rim.”
FC got off to a fast start scoring 24 points in the first quarter. However, Tri-City came back with a second-quarter press that took FC out of their game and whittled their lead to 38-33 by halftime.
Defensive adjustments in the third quarter led to FC outscoring Tri-City 23-8 and icing the game by taking a 61-41 lead into the final quarter. FC held Tri-City leading scorer junior Joe Pichette to just 3 second half points, while limiting the rest of the team’s offense.
“In the beginning of the game it was close,” sophomore Cooper Belmont said. “But we really came out more intense in the second half and played more physical which led to a huge victory for our team.”
In the locker room after the game, Schultz told his team that everyone contributed to the win.
“This was a good way to end the tournament, playing a good team and playing well enough to blow them out,” Schultz said. “It was a team effort with some guys doing the scoring, others playing outstanding defense, and others just playing hard. I was proud of the entire team today.”
Brown was pleased with the team’s victory in the tournament’s final game.
“We won because we used the advantages we had,” Brown said. “We attacked the basket and played good defense. Overall I think we could have gone 3-4 in the tournament if we all played harder, but the trip was a great experience. I really got a chance to bond with my teammates.”
The Eagles will next host Sierra (Tollhouse) Jan. 5, 7 p.m.
KNIGHTS WEAR DOWN EAGLES–Dec. 29
Following a close first quarter, Kings Academy (Sunnyvale, CA) outraced FC in the second and pulled away for a 65-42 victory in the Tri-City Christian Holiday Classic, Dec. 29.
Sophomore center Jeremiah Brown led the Eagles with 20 points (80% from the free-throw line) and 13 rebounds, and senior forward Landon Martens had 11 points. FC shot only 12 of 46 (26%) on 2-point field goal attempts and 2 of 12 (17%) from beyond the 3-point arc.
“We kept fighting, but the shots just didn’t fall,” head coach Chris Schultz said. “When only four guys put up points for you after a game when you have five players in double figures, it’s going to be a tough game. Sometimes you have those games.”
Schultz was pleased with Brown’s improved free-throw shooting and will allow the Eagle’s center to attempt 3-pointer next season if he shoots 80% from the free-throw line this season.
“Jerry made a lot of things happen for himself, even though we failed to use our offense to feed him the ball. Seeing him shoot a high percentage from the free-throw line was huge for him as well. He needs to continue to shoot that way.”
Though FC cut the Kings Academy lead to 10 with a minute left in the third quarter, the Eagles turned the ball over on both of their ensuing possessions and the Knights banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to take a 13-point lead into the fourth.
EAGLES BLOW OUT CHRISTIAN LIFE–Dec. 29
Four players reached double digits in scoring, and FC dropped Christian Life Academy, Escondido, CA), 77-47, in their second game of the Tri-City Christian Holiday Classic, Dec. 29.
Freshman David Wells went for 23 points, sophomore Chandler Vargas had 14, and senior Landon Martens and sophomore Jeremiah Brown added 10 apiece. Brown also led the team with 16 rebounds.
“David came out terribly aggressive in the second half (17 points in the third quarter),” head coach Chris Schultz said. “It was fun to watch him play at such a high level. Chandler was aggressive, making shots, distributing the ball and making things happen on the defensive end.”
FC lit it up from beyond the arc, making 8 of 14 (57%) 3-point attempts, while forcing 22 Christian Life turnovers.
“It felt good to get a win against them because we lost to them last year,” Brown said. “We played aggressively and and attacked the basket. I thought we played great in the second half.”
After the first quarter, FC held a narrow 18-15 advantage, which they lost in the second. Christian Life outscored them 22-14 to take a 37-32 lead into the locker room. With their first lead of the tournament, Christian Life held hopes of closing FC out in the second half.
But the Eagles would have none of that. FC pounded Christian Life 26-10 in the third quarter and 19-1 in the fourth to blowout their opponents by a full thirty points (their largest margin of victory so far this season).
“I really liked our effort,” Schultz said. “We played hard defensively, got out in transition, and everybody contributed. To have five players in double figures is a good sign for us.”
HAWK CLASSIC INVITATIONAL, Dec. 15-19
FIREBAUGH OUTPLAYS FC–Dec. 19
In the final game of the Hawk Classic, Firebaugh took advantage of FC on the offensive boards for a 60-55 victory, Dec. 19.
“I didn’t think we played a poor game tonight, it just seems that Firebaugh was just better,” head coach Chris Schultz said. “They hit a lot of tough shots, handled our pressure well and made some clutch free throws down the stretch. We didn’t give up and we had a chance to win in the end so I’m encouraged by that.”
Firebaugh took a 14-12 first quarter and a 33-21 lead into the half after nailing seven first-half three-pointers. Juniors Ricky Hurt and Rigo Hernandez drilled multiple shots from down-town to hinder the Eagles’ comeback attempts.
Led by senior point guard Saul Lopez, Firebaugh did not succumb to FC’s full-court pressure. Instead, utilizing their big men as passers, they got quality scoring opportunities.
FC had trouble scoring against their opponents’ 1-1-3 zone defense. Schultz says his team failed to get enough post touches on offense.
“In the first half their zone caused us problems because we didn’t use our bigs as passers,” Schultz said. “In the second half we expanded their zone, made some shots, but more than anything we got offensive rebound opportunities. That’s why its so important for us to get post touches each possession.”
After getting within seven points of the Firebaugh lead at the conclusion of the third quarter, FC cut the lead to just two points with 43 seconds remaining in regulation. But though they got senior Landon Martens a wide open look at a three, it would not go.
Firebaugh went on to seal the win by making three free-throws in final 35 seconds of the game. Despite the loss, FC outscored their opponents 20-9 in the final quarter.
Sophomore Jeremiah Brown led FC with 18 points and 15 rebounds (8 offensive), while Martens finished with 13 points. As a team, FC shot only 3-14 from the free-throw line and 6 of 23 (26%) from beyond the three-point arc.
“We’re learning every game,” Schultz said. “Sometimes I look out on the floor and see a freshman and three sophomores playing and recognize that we’re going to have some moments in a game where we play young or inexperienced. But each game provides these young guys a chance to understand what it takes to play at this level and we’re going to just keep getting better as the year continues.”
EAGLES DOWN BRONCOS IN TIGHT MATCH-UP–Dec. 18
After three quarters in their game against Dos Palos, FC was in a hole. Refusing to be denied, however, they battled in the fourth to secure a 66-63 victory, Dec. 18.
“This was an back and forth basketball game with a great deal of intensity and energy for an early season game,” head coach Chris Schultz said. “We were really forced to dig deep and come up with the plays to win the game. I liked that we matched their strength with our own toughness and willingness to battle for the victory.”
After being encouraged by his coach to shoot more, senior Landon Martens went off for a game-high 22 points, and paced the Eagle offense throughout the game. Sophomore Jeremiah Brown, who sat out last night with a sore knee, scored 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, while freshman David Wells finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
“We challenged Landon in a meeting earlier in the day to be more aggressive,” Schultz said. “We need him to average at least 15 shots a game and he was far below that until now. Tonight he came out attacking and never let up. His play set the tone for everyone else and it showed in the attacks to the basket.”
The two teams matched each other point for point in both the first and second quarters (18-18 and 14-14) and when into the locker room dead even at 32 a piece. The Broncos then came out and outscored FC 13-12 in the third to take a slim 45-44 lead into the final quarter.
With an 6-0 run early in the quarter, the Eagles gained the advantage. In a timeout midway through the quarter, Schultz told his team to “put this one away right here.”
FC failed to do so, as Dos Palos got back within 3 points of the lead with 2 minutes to play. But they would not be denied the win. Strong offensive play from Brown down the stretch sealed the deal, and the Eagles improved to 4-3 overall.
Good rebounding (22 offensive boards) and limited turnovers (only 20) led to the win. The Eagles also converted their second-chance opportunities into 25 points forced 25 Bronco turnovers.
Sophomore point guard Brady Lee scored 5 points and led the team in assists with 7. He also had only 2 turnovers while handling the ball for the Eagles.
“Brady has really solidified our point position the past couple of games,” Schultz said. “He’s making great decisions, not trying to do too much and helping us get to a place where we can be successful.”
Lee says the team is starting to learn how to win the close games in the fourth quarter.
“I’ve been in many situations before where we have the lead in the last minute but lost,” Lee said. “In some of those we have lost because of a last second shot. This was a great game for us, and one of the first that I’ve played in that we’ve got a win.”
The Eagles will next play Firebaugh in the Hawk Classic, Dec. 19, 6 p.m.
FC DROPS CLOSE GAME TO MADERA SOUTH, DROPS TO 3-3–Dec. 17
After dominating FC on the boards, Madera South finished off a 45-36 win over the Eagles in the Hawk Classic, Dec. 17.
Senior Landon Martens led the way with 10 points and sophomore Chandler Vargas added 9 for the Eagles, who for the first time this season played without starting center Jeremiah Brown. Brown, still recovering from knee surgery, will sit out one to two games to give the knee some rest.
“Playing without Jeremiah was a difficult task for us because he provides so much on both ends of the floor,” head coach Chris Schultz said. “We need his scoring because it makes everyone else better and he has been cleaning up the glass which is something we didn’t do very well tonight.”
The Stallions slowed the Eagles attack with their press, creating scoring opportunities off steals. With their defensive intensity and rebounding ability, Madera South took a 26-14 lead into halftime.
FC rebounded better in the second half, and outscored the Stallions 13-7 in the third. Madera South, however proved to be the better team on this night, winning the fourth quarter 12-9 to seal the win.
Turnovers and lack of good shots severely hampered the Eagles according to Schultz.
“I was pleased that we competed despite being down a couple of guys,” Schultz said. “We slowed down the game, played at our pace and were in the game in the fourth quarter. In the end, we simply turned the ball over too many times and couldn’t connect on some of the good looks we had.”
FC will next look to get a win over Dos Palos who is coming off a loss to Firebaugh. The Eagles/Broncos contest will be FC’s third game of the Hawk Classic, Dec. 19.
“We’ve got two more games before break and we’ve got to come out and really look to finish this part of the season well,” Schultz said. “Our next two opponents will play hard and are well coached, so we’ll need a great effort and an ability to execute.”
EAGLES TOP HAWKS 57-42–Dec. 15
Behind a balanced offensive attack and steady defense, FC beat the host Liberty Madera-Ranchos, Hawks, 57-42, in the opening game of the Hawk Classic, Dec. 15.
“I was very pleased with our game,” senior Landon Martens said. “I felt that everyone on the team contributed to the win. It’s nice to see the younger guys improving after each game. We should have a very successful season this year.”
The Eagles improved won their third straight game to improve to 3-2 overall, while beating the Hawks (0-6) and head coach (former FC teacher/assistant coach) C.J. Haydock.
Martens led the team with 13 points, sophomore Jeremiah Brown had 12 points, freshman David Wells dropped 11, and sophomore Chandler Vargas contributed 10.
“Landon is starting to find his stroke and it’s good to see,” head coach Chris Schultz said. “We knew early on that he would struggle but the more we practice and the longer the season goes on, he’s going to be a real threat from the outside for us.”
The Eagles took control of the game early, outscoring Liberty 12-6 in the opening quarter and 18-14 in the second. FC alternated between three different defenses (man-to-man, 1-3-1 zone and 2-3 zone) confusing the Hawk players.
After turning the ball over 15 times in the first half, the Eagles handled the ball better in the second with only 2 turnovers. They also shot 51% from the field (18 of 35) due to Brown’s strong play inside.
Brown took advantage of the Hawks less-experienced inside players throughout the game. The Eagle center grabbed 12 rebounds while limiting the offensive play of Hawks leading scorer Jordean Chase.
Senior Tim Miller joined the team last week to provide some depth at the post position. The football wide-receiver’s role includes providing rest for Brown and Wells while serving as a force down low for FC.
“Tonight, I got more playing time in a basketball game than I ever have in my whole life,” Miller said. “It was fun, but I got winded surprisingly fast. This week I’m looking forward to getting more playing time and helping the team when I can.”
FC shut down Liberty’s perimeter players, while limiting Chase to a few offensive put-backs.
“It’s good to get three in a row,” Schultz said. “We’ve played well enough to win and we’re continuing to learn what it means to complete, play strong and give consistent effort each game. We’re looking forward to rest of the tournament and challenging for a championship.”
IMMANUEL HOLIDAY INVITATIONAL–Dec. 9-12
FC TURNS AROUND CLOSE GAME, BESTS PANTHERS–Dec. 12
After a back-and-forth first half, the Eagles ran away from the Parlier Panthers in the second for a 55-46 victory in the 5th place game of the Immanuel Holiday Invitational, Dec. 12. The win helped FC improve to 2-2 overall.
“Our seniors really led us tonight; especially defensively,” head coach Chris Schultz said. “(Seniors) Spencer (Lee) and Landon (Martens) played hard and aggressively. They grabbed rebounds and played with the kind of effort and strength that we’re going to need to be successful for this year.”
Taking advantage of the smaller Parlier squad, sophomore Jeremiah Brown dropped 21 points, dominating the paint for the second straight game. Brown currently leads the Eagles with an average of 18.8 points-per-game and 13.8 rebounds.
“Jerry had a monster tournament for us,” Schultz said. “and just keeps getting better each game. He’s realizing how to play at a varsity level and despite his age, he is making plays and being a difference maker for us.”
The Eagles’ 6’5″ freshman forward David Wells finished off his first varsity tournament with 13 points and 8 rebounds, while sophomore Cooper Belmont added 10 points.
“We played unselfishly and executed what we needed to in order to win,” Wells said. “We still need to work on our post-ups and entry passes. Once we get those things down, we will be able to use our height to our advantage.”
Despite being undersized compared to FC, the Panthers kept the game close with scrappy play throughout the opening half.
The Eagles outscored Parlier 14-12 in the first quarter, but their opponents refused to go down without a fight. The Panthers consistently drilled deep three against FC’s signature 1-3-1 zone defense, including a last second shot from the corner by junior Oscar Iniguez that tied the game 30-30 at the half.
After refocusing in the locker room, the Eagles came out and bull-rushed Parlier, outscoring them 16-5 to gain a lead they would never lose. The Panthers battle back winning the final quarter 11-9, but it would not be enough as the Eagles claimed their second consecutive win.
“The third quarter was huge for us,” Schultz said. “We forced the game to move quicker and it forced Parlier into some turnovers and rushed shots. We were able to rebound the ball, get out in transition and turn a slow game into a fast-paced one, which was to our advantage.”
FC is currently undefeated against West Sequoia League opponents at 2-0. On the flipside, Parlier, the defending league runner-up, remains winless at 0-4 overall.
“We grew up in four games,” Schultz said. “We knew the first two would be rough but that we would be committed to improving and being able to evaluate our play. Our youngsters played with more strength and poise, our newcomers showed considerable improvements and our seniors helped us understand the intensity and passion we need to compete this year. I’m very pleased with the results and we’ll keep working at improving and getting better.”
FC DEFEATS FOLWER, WINS FIRST GAME–Dec. 11
Behind a career game from sophomore center Jeremiah Brown, the Eagles cruised to their first win of the season, a 59-44 triumph over Fowler, in the Immanuel Holiday Tournament, Dec. 11.
Brown finished the game with 22 points and 21 rebounds to lead all players in both categories.
“I started to play like the old me again,” Brown said. “I wasn’t being passive or weak. I came out strong and was going into the other players and being aggressive.”
The first-year starting center also won “the chair” a defensive honor awarded to the player with the greatest combined number of rebounds, steals, blocks, tips, charges and hustle points.
“Jerry was an absolute beast tonight,” Schultz said. “He played strong and aggressive on both ends of the court. He went and got balls that were up in the air and was able to finish. I’m really proud of his effort.”
Senior Landon Martens and freshman David Well both scored 13 points to round out the Eagles top three scorers. Martens had several attacks to the basket and two three pointers, while Wells scored all his buckets inside the paint.
Head coach Chis Schultz got his first win over Fowler in his four-years as the Eagles’ skipper. The victory also marked the first time the boys’ basketball program has beaten the Redcats since Feb. 7, 2006.
“We came out and played really hard tonight,” Schultz said. “We needed to play well and give great effort, and we did that which was the difference in the game. Our 1-3-1 defense really kept them off balance and they were never able to get in a real rhythm offensively. We didn’t always execute, but it was enough to slow them down.”
BAKERSFIELD CHRISTIAN PREVAILS OVER EAGLES–Dec. 10
In their second straight game against a top team in the Immanuel Holiday Invitational, the Eagles lost 79-59 to defending Division IV Valley champion, Bakersfield Christian, Dec. 10.
Freshman David Wells had 19 points for FC, and sophomore Jeremiah Brown collected 14 rebounds. For BC, junior Jordan Kingley scored a game-high 20 points, and sophomore Tyler Harris added 11.
“David really responded in the second half after a passive first half,” Schultz said. “He was more physical and aggressive, going after people at the block and on the perimeter. He’s growing up quickly and it’s fun to watch.”
FC got off to a poor offensive start, as their opponents jumped out to an early 19-5 first quarter lead. With his 6’3″ frame, Harris proved to be a match-up problem on the perimeter for the Eagles.
The second quarter was all BC, as they outscored FC 25-16. Several steals led to uncontested fast-break lay-ups as they pulled away from the Eagles. At the half, BC held a 44-21 advantage.
After the break, BC forced Eagle turnovers by getting in the passing lanes and also implementing an effective semi-full-court press midway through the third quarter. They pumped out 18 points to FC’s 11, and their lead rocketed to 62-32.
In the fourth, FC’s outscored BC’s reserves 27-17, but it would not be enough as they lost their second consecutive game by 20 points. The win moved BC to 2-0 overall, while FC dropped to 0-2.
“We knew these first two games were going to be challenging, playing quality programs with outstanding players,” Schultz said. “We didn’t match up and play very well and that’s disappointing. But we’ll learn from this, get better and remember these games as simply starting points for this season.”
The Eagles will next play Fowler in the Immanuel Holiday Invitational, Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m.
SEASONED IMMANUEL TEAM HANDS FC OPENING LOSS–Dec. 9
In FC’s opening game of the 2009-’10 season and the Immanuel Holiday Invitational, it was a older more experienced Immanuel High (Reedley) squad that bested the Eagles 67-45, Dec. 9.
Immanuel forced the Eagles into 32 turnovers while grabbing 23 offensive rebounds (which they converted for 24 points).
Sophomore center Jeremiah Brown led FC with 15 points and 12 rebounds. With a clear height advantage, Immanuel dominated the boards and also caused multiple mismatches for FC.
Brown says his journey back from tearing his ACL last January has been a rough one.
“I went to physical therapy for about eight months to rehab my knee and get my body back in shape,” Brown said. “When I first came back to the basketball team, I was in zero shape. Now I’m starting to get in basketball shape, and being able to complete the basketball workouts. Coach Schultz has been giving me the push I need to make it through.”
Head coach Chris Schultz says his team failed to do all the “little things” that lead to victories.
“We’re a very young and inexperienced varsity basketball team,” Schultz said. “The stats speak for themselves. You have to take care of them all, you have to box out and secure rebounds, and you have to convert opportunities at the free throw line. We didn’t do any of those and the scoreboard reflected that.”
After quickly falling behind 6-0 to start the game, FC bounced back using a second-quarter rally to tie the game at 20-20 two minutes into the quarter. However, Immanuel went on a 17-4 run to close the first and take a 37-24 lead into the half.
Immanuel cemented their lead in the third quarter by outscoring FC 15-6. The teams went on to score 15 points a piece in the final quarter.
FC missed many scoring opportunities making only 17 of 38 shots from the free throw line. With the win, Immanuel improved to 2-1 overall, while FC moved to 0-1.
“These games are to evaluate where we are at this point in the season,” Schultz said. “We understand we have to protect the ball and be more aggressive defensively. We’ll be up and ready to play tomorrow night.”
The Eagle will next play Bakersfield Christian in the Immanuel Holiday Invitational, Dec. 10.
YOUNG TEAM ANTICIPATES OPENER
The Eagles will open their season against Immanuel High (Reedley), in the Immanuel Holiday Tournament, Dec. 9.
Though the team is relatively young this year (four seniors, 1 junior and 4 sophomores), the team is deep talent-wise, according to four-year head coach Chris Schultz.
Follow the team season-long in the sport shorts or check out games scores in the Winter sport box scores, 2009-10
Bree Ainley • Jan 28, 2011 at 12:02 am
Um, I love you, and you are amazing.. and that is pretty much all I have to say about this one!
Katelyn Miller • Jan 28, 2011 at 12:02 am
Thanks Emm! :)) Too bad I just got roofed! Hahaha. Good coverage btw 🙂
Emily Schoettler • Jan 28, 2011 at 12:02 am
I love you Kat!
You smack that ball! 🙂