GARDEN GROVE – “We believe we can do it, but we don’t know we can do it yet.”
It’s a strange thing for a coach to say, but with the Sunset League seemingly up for grabs this season, Fountain Valley might have as good a shot as any to win their first league title since 1996.
The Barons are off to their best start in at least 10 years after a 66-25 rout of Fullerton in the second round of Cavalier Classic on Tuesday at Santiago High.
The victory gives Fountain Valley (10-2) the same number of wins as last season’s team in 14 fewer games played.
“We’ve been pushing them to believe in championships, and playing and practicing toward a championship, and winning that Sunset League,” Fountain Valley coach Cory Clarke said. “That’s our goal.”
The formula for the Barons’ success so far has been defensive pressure, ball movement and balance, and Tuesday’s victory over Fullerton was an extreme example of all three components.
The Fountain Valley full-court pressure forced 17 turnovers in the first half, 17 of the Barons’ 23 field goals were on assists, and all but one of their 13 players scored at least three points, but none scored in double digits.
Senior Ari Jacobsen and junior reserve junior guard Kayleen Amimoto tied for the scoring lead with nine points, sophomore Siena Ontiveros added eight, and Mikaila Pacis and Andie Krisinat had six points apiece.
Emptying his bench, Clarke saw his group of reserves execute the extra-pass offense as well as his starters. The Barons’ bench scored all 21 of the team’s points in the fourth quarter and hit 5 of 10 shots from 3-point range.
“It was the first complete game we’ve played,” Clarke said. “We had a little bit of a lull in the third quarter, but as far as intensity and keeping it up – the bottom five (players) played as good as the first eight.”
What might make Fountain Valley a contender in the Sunset League in 2015 is that almost every girl on the roster is both comfortable taking an open 3-pointer and comfortable passing up a contested shot if a teammate has an open look.
“That’s the way we try to play,” Clarke said. “Nobody dominates the ball.”
The ball movement and high pace on offense and defense are by design, especially in preparation for some of the larger teams in the Sunset League. The Barons only have one player listed at 6-foot or taller – sophomore Rilyn Todd, who will continue to develop as an inside presence and had three points and two rebounds Tuesday – but will likely play small against the Sunset’s best.
“We’re so small, we have to play fast,” Clarke said. “So, when we see teams like Edison and Huntington (Beach), who have tremendous size, we have to have them play our style.”
