Warriors win first two boys basketball league games

Valley League play for Fallbrook High School's boys basketball team began April 30 with a home game against San Pasqual, and the Warriors traveled to San Pasqual for a May 1 contest. Fallbrook won both games, giving the Warriors a 2-0 league record albeit a 2-10 overall mark.

"Our pre-league schedule was the hardest schedule in our league," said Fallbrook coach Moe Golshani. "It was very frustrating to start the year, but I'm glad it was the way it was."

Golshani noted that the tough pre-league schedule ensured that the Warriors would be used to higher-level competition during league play and the CIF playoffs should the Warriors be given a postseason berth. "My job is to make sure we're prepared," he said.

For basketball, the 2020-21 Valley League consists of Fallbrook, Escondido, Mount Carmel, Ramona, San Pasqual, and Valley Center. This season, the past practice of playing each team before a second round of league games against each of the teams has been replaced by playing consecutive matches against each team at each home court.

The April 30 game had a final score of 42-39. "We spent a lot of time focusing on our strengths and what we thought was their weaknesses," Golshani said. "We did a decent job executing."

Golshani noted that the Warriors played three good quarters but were outscored by a 12-2 margin in the second period. With six minutes remaining in the game San Pasqual led by eight points.

The contributions of junior Charlie Stallings included 21 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks. Ten points were scored by freshman Marquise Washington. The team combined for nine deflections while playing defense.

Prior to the May 1 game, Golshani and his players spent approximately 75 minutes on a walk-through to prepare for the second contest against the Golden Eagles. "When we put it into play Saturday night, it was fantastic," Golshani said.

The preparation paid off with a 60-48 victory. "Saturday's game was the best four quarters we've played as a basketball team," Golshani said.

The 12-point margin of victory allowed Golshani to provide game experience to his substitutes. "We went deep into my bench," he said.

Fallbrook had 13 deflections May 1. "Our strength is our defense," Golshani said. "We like to trap. Our defensive rotations have gotten night and day better."

Stallings had 19 points, 13 rebounds, and a block May 1. The 15 points scored by sophomore Reese Holmes were the result of making five of six shots from the field and five of seven shots from the free throw line, and Holmes added five rebounds.

Fallbrook's last game prior to the start of league competition was a 62-35 loss April 24 at Del Norte. The Warriors also played at Del Norte on April 8, and that game was a 67-19 Nighthawks victory. "We made a huge improvement," Golshani said.

"We've gotten better every single game we've been on the court," Golshani said. "The record shows 2 and 10, but for me we're 12 and 0 because every game we've gotten better."