Inability to hold leads keeps Warrior boys' basketball winless

The score at the end of 32 minutes of regulation play, or after one or more overtime periods if the score is tied after four quarters, determines who wins or loses a high school basketball game. Fallbrook High School has been on the losing end for all 22 of the Warriors’ games as of Jan. 25, including six Valley League matches, but the Warriors have forced Valley League opponents to overcome fourth-quarter deficits.

“We had leads,” Fallbrook coach Ryan Smith said.

Fallbrook and Escondido High School were opponents when Valley League play began Jan. 9. The game at Fallbrook ended as an 85-47 Cougar’s victory.

The Warriors fell to 0-2 in league play Jan. 11 when a home game against Ramona High School resulted in a 54-37 Bulldogs triumph. Ramona held a 23-16 halftime lead before outscoring Fallbrook by a 22-7 margin in the third quarter.

Fallbrook’s Jan. 16 trip to Valley Center saw the Jaguars prevail in the 64-49 game.

Mission Vista High School made the trip to Fallbrook for a Jan. 18 contest, and although the Warriors led with five minutes remaining the Timberwolves returned home with a 44-37 victory.

Fallbrook led San Pasqual High School by two points Jan. 23 game on the Golden Eagles’ court with three minutes left in the game before the Golden Eagles overcame the deficit for a 71-66 win.

The Warriors were led offensively by junior Cooper Sherman, who had 33 points against San Pasqual including seven three-point baskets.

The second round of Valley League play began Jan. 25. Fallbrook played at Escondido, who won by a 73-64 margin.

“We’ve struggled,” Smith said.

The Warriors trailed the Cougars by four with two minutes left.

“They executed, they played about as perfect a game as they could,” Smith said. “We just didn’t quite have the depth to stay in the game.”

Sherman scored 27 points against Escondido in the second round and sunk seven three-point shots.

“Cooper Sherman has been phenomenal,” Smith said.

The lack of depth is complementing Sherman’s offensive skills in producing the high points totals.

“We don’t really have anyone to give two or three of our guys rest,” Smith said. “Three of the guys play almost all 32 minutes.”

Sherman tends to play 25 to 26 minutes each game. Substitutes for junior Joel Calhoun and senior Tommy Martin are less available, so Calhoun and Martin sometimes play all the game. Height issues force Smith to keep the 6-foot-3 Calhoun and the 6-foot-2 Martin on the court.

“We’re not very tall as a team in general," Smith said.

Smith began the season with nine varsity players not including senior Malachi Gordon, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament a week before the season began and nine junior varsity players. Smith moved one of his varsity players who was not understanding offensive and defensive situations to the junior varsity, which reduced the active varsity roster to eight.

“Our bench was thrust in the roles they weren’t prepared for this year,” Smith said. “They’ve done a heck of a job.”

The nine-point loss to Escondido is an improvement from the 38-point margin during the first round of league play.

“I feel like we’re getting a lot better with each and every game,” Smith said.