Warriors 3-2 after first five league boys basketball games

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

After five Valley League games, Fallbrook High School’s boys basketball team had a 3-2 league record.

The Jan. 27 win over Escondido improved the Warriors to 10-13 overall. “We’re watching them grow,” said Fallbrook coach Jonathan Terry.

After the first five league games of the 2021-22 season, Fallbrook was 2-3 in league play and 7-12 overall. Last year’s roster had five seniors and also included the Washington brothers who have moved to Texas. “We were so senior-heavy last year,” Terry said. “I don’t have any returning starters from last year.”

Fallbrook’s 2022-23 season began Nov. 12 with an 83-50 loss to La Jolla. The Warriors then defeated Classical Academy in a 52-44 home game Nov. 15. Five consecutive losses followed before Fallbrook put together a two-game winning streak with a 57-45 home victory Nov. 30 against Tri-City Christian and a 62-52 triumph Dec. 2 at Classical Academy. Fallbrook had a 4-10 record after a Jan. 3 loss at Vista.

The Warriors preceded league play with a 56-22 win Jan. 6 at home against O’Farrell. Ten different Fallbrook players scored points.

This season’s varsity roster has 14 players. “If you’re on the team, you’re expected to participate,” Terry said. “They all contribute.”

League play for Fallbrook began Jan. 11 at Escondido. The Warriors were on the preferred end of the 55-38 final score. Reese Holmes scored 18 points and Samuel Carmona added 13 points. Holmes grabbed five rebounds while Maliki Brotherton and Kaleb Collings pulled down four rebounds apiece.

Fallbrook then had a non-league game Jan. 14 against Kearny at Lincoln High School. The Warriors won by a 57-49 margin. “I like the game that we played at the MLK Showcase,” Terry said.

Another non-league game Jan. 16 at home against St. Joseph Academy was a 66-53 Crusaders victory. Fallbrook then returned to league play Jan. 18 but lost a 54-46 home game against San Pasqual.

The Jan. 20 league game at Mission Vista went into overtime, but the Timberwolves prevailed in that 56-50 contest. Terry still praised his players in the two league losses. “They played hard. I was very happy with their performance,” he said.

Fallbrook broke the three-game losing streak Jan. 23 at Del Lago Academy with a 74-64 win. Three Warriors scored in double figures against the Firebirds: Carmona provided 18 points, Brotherton contributed 17 points, and Xavier Charland sank 11 points worth of baskets. Bobby Monk led the team with five rebounds.

Fallbrook improved to 2-2 in league play on Jan. 25 with a 68-55 home victory over Valley Center. Charland led the Warriors with 24 points.

The Jan. 27 home triumph had a 69-36 score and gave the Warriors six wins over a nine-game span. “We’ve been playing a good hunk of basketball in Jan.,” Terry said. “It shows we’ve improved.”