On Friday, the boys’ varsity basketball team competed against the Temple City Rams in the second round of the 3A division California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section playoffs. The barons emerged victorious with a score of 69-55 and advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1995.
The first quarter saw the barons struggling to contain the rams’ potent outside scoring. As a result of poor communication and late closeouts, Fountain Valley’s defense was exposed to a volley of three pointers to start the game. This kept them pinned down early, as they trailed by as much as 10 points within the first half.
However, with an adjustment to their zone defense, and continued relentless attacks to the basket, the barons were able to pull the game within one possession. Juniors Jeremiah Davis, who had scored a game high 23 along with 17 rebounds, and Preston Amarillo, who scored 16 along with 8 rebounds, exposed the underbelly of the Temple City defense by attacking their interior and finishing down low. Despite their valiant efforts, the barons went into halftime down 29-31.
Coming out of the half, both teams entered a strongly fought back and forth match, as they traded points for a majority of the quarter. Long range jumpers were being traded with strong layups, as both teams fought to keep pace with one another. It wasn’t until early in the fourth quarter where cracks began to form in the iron clad stalemate.
The barons offense finally started clicking as they rocketed off a 13-0 run in the final frame of the game. The charge was led by sophomore Aden Casarez, who poured in ten points along with two threes within the fourth quarter to allow the barons to pull away.
Having taken all the momentum, the barons were able to take complete control of the game. With a little less than a minute left on the clock, Davis went the course of the court in order to soar for a fastbreak dunk that capped off a dominant fourth quarter.
Fountain Valley travels to Yorba Linda High School to take on the Mustangs on Feb. 18 in their CIF quarterfinal match up.
