By Emma Nguyen
On Tuesday, Jan. 20, Fountain Valley High School (FVHS) girls’ basketball (3–3 league, 12–10 overall) battled against the Corona Del Mar (CDM) Sea Kings in an intense matchup that pushed both teams to their limits. In the end, the Barons fought hard for a 47–42 overtime victory on their home court. Key players included senior Sophie Hsieh with both strong defense and offense and senior Avery Jones with strong defense.
The Barons opened the first quarter with strong defensive pressure, immediately setting the tone of the game. Jones led the offense, knocking down two crucial two-point shots in the final minute of the quarter. Senior Kailyn Huynh also scored two more points in the last 14 seconds and the Barons maintained momentum heading into the second quarter.
“We played really good defense,” girls’ basketball coach Cameron Hamaguchi said. “All five girls played really [well].”
The Sea Kings opened up the second quarter with a bucket, but Hsieh quickly responded with effective defense and a two-point basket. After a brief timeout, the Sea Kings scored two more points, but the Barons responded quickly; Hsieh continued to shine offensively, as she scored multiple times throughout the quarter, extending the Barons’ lead and keeping momentum. Closing the first half, the Baron built a comfortable lead of 24-13.
“Sophie played really great defense, and she was aggressive on offense,” Hamaguchi said. “Avery [also] played a great defense.”
The third quarter began with tough defensive energy from the Barons. With 30 seconds left in the quarter, Hsieh forced a turnover that swung energy back to the Barons’ side; consequently, freshman Bailey Dinh swished a three-point shot, pushing FVHS’ score to 28 and electrifying the gym. Jones also continued to dominate defensively, managing key steals that disrupted the Sea Kings’ rhythm. Despite a few successful baskets from CDM, the Barons maintained their lead going into the final quarter.
The final quarter proved to be the most nail-biting of the game. The Sea Kings steadily closed in on the score using various free throws, bringing their score to 34. Strong teamwork from Hsieh and Huynh helped the Barons regain tempo, but CDM fought back. The score was tied at 37-37, with the final moments of the quarter featuring a back-and-forth exchange as Jones scored the final shot to tie the game at 39-39. The Barons held a strong defense in the final seconds, forcing multiple missed shots by CDM and sending the game into overtime.
“Avery had the basket to tie us in the fourth quarter. Sophie hit a big free throw to put us up. Bailey hit a big free throw to seal the game,” Hamaguchi said.
The Barons began overtime with possession, but were unable to score, allowing the Sea Kings to take the lead at the free throw line. Dinh brought back momentum for the Barons as she sank a crucial 3-point shot, reclaiming the lead for the Barons. CDM responded quickly, tying the game at 42-42. Senior Kailey Nishi scored another 3-pointer, and an intentional foul on Hsieh gave the Barons back momentum and allowed Hsieh to shoot a critical free throw. Dinh sealed FVHS’s win with another free throw.
“I think that the whole team played really great collectively,” Hamaguchi said. “They’ve been really locking in [in] practice, especially this week with it being finals. I really appreciate them showing up and working hard every day, regardless of all the other things they have going on. [The] entire team is doing a great job. We’re looking forward to hopefully getting a win on Thursday.”
The Lady Barons will continue their season this Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. against the Marina Vikings.
