Warriors boys basketball starts season undefeated

After just one win last season, the Fallbrook Union High School Warriors Varsity Boys Basketball team has started this season undefeated, giving head coach Ryan Smith reason to smile.

"I'm very happy, I mean, we still have a lot of things we have to work on to get better with, but they're doing their jobs to get it done," Smith said. "They are becoming a team and figuring out ways to win games which we've struggled with the last couple of years. But I am very happy."

The Warriors completed an undefeated trip to the Division 4 Showcase tournament title, Nov. 3, even though they were one of just a couple Div. 5 teams in the tournament.

A big third quarter and solid defense helped the Warriors hold on to a 52-50 win over Monte Vista in the tournament's championship game.

The Warriors opened the tournament with wins over Preuss UCSD (63-35) and El Cajon Valley (68-62).

We had two games back to back where we didn't play to what we were capable of," Smith said. "But we didn't freak out when we were down, we came back and had big third quarters to take the lead. Those are things we struggled with the last two years."

Smith said the team's shooting and defense has carried them to the 5-0 record, along with the mental side of the game.

"We've been very confident knowing that we could still win," Smith said.

The Warriors opened the season with a win over O'Farrell Charter and came back three days later, Oct. 22, to beat San Pasqual 59-42.

The Warriors were scheduled to play Bonsall High School Tuesday, Dec. 3, and Sage Creek on the road, Thursday, Dec. 5, before hosting Classical Academy Dec. 14 and San Dieguito Academy Dec. 17.

Jeff Pack can be reached by email at [email protected].